A man has died and several others were seriously hurt after a spate of crashes on the M5 in Devon.

The motorway was closed in both directions for over twelve hours after multiple crashes between junctions J28 (Cullompton) and J27 (Sampford Peverell) yesterday evening.

A man in his 30s from Plymouth, a driver of one of the vehicles, died at the scene after a crash at about 11.10pm on the southbound carriageway.

He succumbed to his injuries at the scene despite the efforts of the emergency crews. His next of kin have been informed.

A man in his 40s from the Cullompton area has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and he remains in police custody.

Four other people were rushed to the hospital, with non-life threatening injuries.

An hour before before the fatal crash, three vehicles collided near Willand on the northbound lanes, causing the road to be closed.

One man was seriously injured.

Drivers faced long delays throughout the day, with diversion routes heavily congested as well.

Both carriageways reopened to traffic shortly after 1pm.

Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘The M5 in Devon has now been reopened in both directions.

‘Thank you to everyone for your patience in what has been a challenging time for all involved.

‘Our thoughts are with the families of those injured and the man who has sadly died.’

Diversion routes were set up on local roads, which were congested due to traffic and oversized vehicles getting stuck.

A lorry was reportedly stuck while trying to divert from the M5 closure, and another HGV became ‘stuck on the back road out of Willand by the river out past the cemetery,’ one driver said.

The first crash on the southbound lane left a man, the driver of a Ford Ka, seriously injured after crashing with a Vauxhall Zafira and a Porsche Boxster, the police said as it appealed for witnesses or dashcam footage.

National Highways said: ‘The M5 in Devon is closed both ways between J27 (Tiverton) and J28 (Cullompton) due to a serious road traffic collision.

‘Devon & Cornwall Police remain on scene to undertake a collision investigation.

‘2 secondary incidents in the queue for the original incident have occurred meaning the road will likely remain closed throughout this morning.’

Bristol Airport issued a warning to passengers, advising travellers heading to the airport to seek an alternative route when the motorway was shut.

An air ambulance was seen landing on the motorway after one of the crashes.