COMMUTERS from Droitwich were hit by motorway chaos when a car transporter and its load caught fire during the rush hour.

Tailbacks spread for miles on Friday morning as the transporter, carrying 11 new Honda cars, burst into flames between Junction 4, at Lydiate Ash, and Junction 4A, the M42 interchange on the northbound carriageway of the M5.

All three lanes of the motorway were closed as firefighters from Bromsgrove, Droit-wich Spa, Redditch and the West Midlands tackled the blaze which started in the back wheels of the carrier just before 7am.

Many motorists in the Droitwich Spa area were affected by the lorry fire.

Northbound traffic was diverted towards Junction 5, at Wychbold, creating jams on the A38 throughout the day.

A hydraulic platform and a water carrier were drafted in to help combat the flames which were finally brought under control and allowed the motorway to be opened three hours later.

Ten cars and the transporter were totally gutted but emergency services managed to save one car which just suffered a melted bumper.