LETHAL shrapnel from gas canisters which flew across the M5 like "missiles" after a lorry fire could have caused an accident too horrific to consider, West Mercia police revealed today.

Both lanes of the motorway were closed as 50 firefighters dealt with the blazing lorry.

It was carrying 500 canisters of carbon dioxide gas when it caught fire on the southbound exit of Strensham Services at 8.30am on Wednesday.

Police say they have received a number of complaints from irate motorists caught in the 15-mile tailbacks created by the closure.

Officers closed Junction 7 southbound at Worcester and Junction 8 - the M50 junction northbound - on the M5, as well as Junction 1 of the M50.

Carl Baldacchino, of West Mercia police, said he appreciated the closure - which lasted for more than 90 minutes - created large delays for motorists, but added failing to do so would have had disastrous results.

"A piece of shrapnel from a canister was found on the central reservation," he said. "This means it cleared the hard shoulder and three lanes which would have had traffic on them.

"Drivers know the damage a large stone or piece of tyre can do, but this would be much heavier, metal with a lot more momentum. If the motorway hadn't been closed, the results would have been too horrific to consider."