The M4 near was blocked for more than an hour this afternoon.

Fire and police were called to an incident one mile east of Junction 16 slip road on the eastbound carriageway just after 3pm.

A single, privately-owned vehicle was involved in the accident and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance was forced to land on the motorway to take a casualty to hospital.

The helicopter landing caused tailbacks on the westbound carriageway stopping the flow of traffic in both directions, on one of the busiest days of the year for travel.

Further traffic was blocked from joining the motorway at Junction 16 eastbound as the slip road was closed off by a police car.

The road was cleared in both directions by 4.30pm