At least five people have suffered injuries in a horrific seven vehicle pile-up on the M5 in Gloucestershire.

Ambulance workers, police and fire crews worked late into the night at the scene of the accident, between junctions 10 and 11.

A male lorry driver was said to be in a life-threatening condition following the collision and was air-lifted to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol for further treatment.

Police have arrested a man on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Two other people involved in the accident were placed on spinal boards and taken to Cheltenham General Hospital with "serious but not life-threatening" injuries.

A further two patients were treated at the roadside for minor injuries.

Four ambulance crews were joined by paramedics in rapid-response vehicles in attending the scene after the accident was reported at around 5.10pm.

Fire and rescue crews said a lorry travelling northbound had crashed through the motorway's central reservation, into the southbound carriageway.

The driver is understood to have been left trapped in the vehicle following the accident and had to be rescued using specialist hydraulic equipment. He was then airlifted to Frenchay.

Seven vehicles are believed to have been involved in the collision including a silver VW Passat, a Blue MG, a grey Ford Escourt, a silver Audi A4,a silver Ford Mondeo and a lorry.

Both north and southbound carriageways of the M5 were closed between junction 10 and 11 causing long tailbacks.

Police said they were hoping to partially reopen the motorway in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

However, they said the outside lanes of each carriageway would have to remain closed for longer to allow for repairs to the central reservation.

A spokesman for the force said: "We would like to thank the public for their assistance and for drivers' patience whilst the emergency services work at the scene."

Anyone with information about how the incident occurred is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident 261 of January 17.

Further updates will follow.