Chemical incident closes M5

A 12-mile section of the motorway is closed.

The M5 motorway was closed and two people taken to hospital after a chemical accident in Gloucestershire.

A 12-mile section of the motorway, between junctions 8 and 11, was closed for several hours on Wednesday, but reopened just before 1500 GMT.

Fifteen fire crews had been called to the Ashchurch Business Centre in Tewkesbury after reports of an explosion at 1145 GMT.

Two people were taken to hospital and nine others were treated at the scene.

People are safe to continue their daily business as usual Gloucestershire Police

People working near the area were moved out and residents advised to shut doors and windows.

Just before 1600 GMT, Gloucestershire Police said it was safe for people to leave their homes and the incident had been dealt with by firefighters.

A spokeswoman said: "People are safe to continue their daily business as usual."

Schoolchildren at a primary school, a special school and a secondary school nearby were kept indoors on Wednesday morning as a precautionary measure.

The incident is believed to have centred on a building belonging to drill manufacturing company Sperry-Sun, near junction 9 of the M5.