A LORRY driver escaped unhurt after a Tesco fuel tanker overturned on the M5, forcing the motorway to be closed in both directions after a massive fuel leak.

The tanker careered off the motorway, sending about 8,000 litres of diesel and petrol spilling over the side of a field at about 8.15am yesterday, as first reported on this website.

Tailbacks built up on roads in Worcestershire as diversions were put in place and firefighters put in force an exclusion zone around the tanker because of the risk of an explosion.

Our photographs show the lorry lying at the side of the road on the northbound carriageway at High Green, near Severn Stoke between junctions seven (Strensham) and eight (Worcester).

The driver, a man in his 40s, walked away unhurt after his lorry hurtled off the M5, down a bank and smashed through trees and a fence.

The tanker was turned on its side but the cab remained upright. None of the spill appeared to be on the M5 itself.

Six fire crews from locations including Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service were at the scene for hours yesterday as they battled to contain the leak and prevent any risk of fire or explosion.

Speaking to your Worcester News yesterday, Alec Mackie, of Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, said service specialists from the Environmental Protection Unit based at Stourport-on-Severn had been called in to contain the leak.

He said: “The motorway is going to be closed for quite a while. It was quite a large tanker that jack- knifed and we’re trying to stop fuel and oil getting into the water courses.

“The fire service is there to prevent any fire but also to stop pollution spreading. Another tanker will come to take away the remaining fuel left in the overturned tanker.

“We have done all we can to prevent this leaking into trenches, ditches and water courses. We are there to make sure there is no spark, fire or explosion.”

The incident support officer and paramedic response unit from West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust also attended. An ambulance spokesman said: “The driver of the tanker was assessed by ambulance crews at the scene and was found to have no injury.”

It was not known when the M5 would re-open when your Worcester News went to press.

The southbound diversion meant drivers had to exit the M5 at junction seven, taking the A38 to junction one of the M50 to return to junction eight of the M5.

The northbound diversion involved leaving the M5 at junction eight, heading onto the M50 and then on the A38 through Kempsey before rejoining the M5 at junction seven.