M5 traffic was moving freely again on Monday after all lanes reopened northbound following a serious crash involving a motorcyclist near junction 9 in Gloucestershire. The northbound carriageway had been shut between junction 11 for Gloucester and junction nine for Tewkesbury after the crash at about 09:50 BST.

Gloucestershire Police said the motorcyclist was a man aged in his 70s who was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol for treatment. Officers said his injuries were not deemed to be life-threatening, and his next of kin had been informed.

The closure briefly disrupted travel on one of the region’s busiest motorway stretches, with drivers held on the approach between Gloucester and Tewkesbury until the road could be cleared. National Highways later said all lanes were open northbound and there were no residual delays on the approach.

Police thanked motorists for their patience and co-operation during the closure. For drivers heading through Gloucestershire, the main question had been whether the route could reopen without a longer tailback, and the answer was yes: the motorway returned to normal flow once the scene was dealt with.