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A Cornish haulage company has said that a large fire involving one of its lorries on the M5 was started by a "careless fag end thrown from a passing vehicle".

Terry Doidge has run TR Doidge, a company which transports hay and straw, since 1991 and one of his trailers has been totally destroyed after massive blaze broke out at about 6pm yesterday on the M5 southbound.

There were lengthy delays and more than seven-mile long queues on the M5 after the incident between J20 B3133 Ettlingen Way in Clevedon and J21 A370 in Weston-Super-Mare.

Terry said "there will be a big insurance claim" and estimates that the damage will be close to £20,000.

He said: "Careless fag end thrown from a passing vehicle this evening has caused chaos on M5 at rush hour and ruined our favourite trailer. Idiots."

The lorry was transporting 14 tonnes of hay and crews from five stations were tasked with extinguishing the blaze.

(Image: Avon Fire and Rescue)

Terry explained he was not at the scene and it was his driver, Tony, who alerted him to the situation.

He said: "It was a driver of mine. You see it all the time with people throwing fag ends out of the window. It's an accident waiting to happen.

"He was flagged down by passing vehicles."

(Image: Terry Doidge)

Thankfully, Tony managed to save the HGV from any serious damage with his "very quick reaction" by uncoupling the trailer.

A spokesperson from Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews from Avonmouth, Clevedon, Nailsea, Temple, Portishead and Bedminster fire stations were called to a tractor unit carrying 14 tonnes of hay on fire on the motorway hard shoulder.

"On arrival, firefighters used two high-pressure hose reels and two 45mm jets to extinguish the fire. The crews were also assisted by the Service's Portishead community responder.

(Image: Terry Doidge)

"Lanes one and two of the motorway were cordoned off for some time, where hay has spilt onto the carriageway, but lane three remained open to allow vehicles to pass.

"With the assistance of a grab lorry to clear the hay from the carriageway, crews used drag forks to turn over the hay and damp down the area.

"Firefighters were joined at the scene by police colleagues and Highways England."

(Image: Terry Doidge)

The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental.

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