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Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens was “shaken” but unhurt after a crash on the M4 tonight after returning from officiating in France.

Owens, 42, from Mynydd Cerrig, Carmarthenshire, had been in charge of the Heineken Cup clash between Castres and Leinster in the south of France on Sunday.

As he was making his way home from Bristol Airport when he suffered the crash on the motorway between Pyle and Margam in which he said he had “probably” written his car off.

Twitter user James Davies had contacted Owens on the social media site, saying shortly before 5.30pm, saying: “99% sure I just saw @Nigelrefowens at scene of bad looking RTC on M4 between Pyle & Margam! Hope alls ok #MrRef if it was you.”

Owens confirmed it had indeed been him, before adding on the site: “Thanks all of u who stopped to see if I was ok after smash on M4. Vrry shaken but ok. Car is prob rite off though thanks to the police too (sic)”

The well-liked official was inundated with messages expressing concern for his welfare before later adding: “Really am touched that so many of you have sent messages and text me after the accident. I am ok thanks shaken and sore but ok. Thanks all (sic)”

A spokesman for South Wales Police told WalesOnline: “We had a number of calls between 5.01pm and 5.03pm reporting an RTC at junction 36/37.

“There were two vehicles involved. There are no reports of any serious injuries. I think the carriageway was blocked between lanes two and three for a short period of time but it has long since been resolved and traffic is moving freely again.”