A LORRY fire brought traffic chaos to the M4 near Swindon, blocking two carriageways of the motorway for more than eight hours yesterday.

Tailbacks on the London bound side of the motorway peaked at 13 miles, stretching back from junction 16.

The lorry, from Wales, was loaded with 20 tons of timber and heading eastbound when a fire broke out in the cab section.

The driver pulled over onto the hard shoulder just before junction 16 where the blaze spread to the cargo. The driver was unhurt.

Two fire appliances from Chippenham were called to the scene at 9am and had dealt with the fire by 11.45am.

But two lanes of the motorway were closed while police attempted to remove the damaged lorry.

An initial attempt to move it failed after the vehicle called in to take it away was not big enough.

The road was finally cleared at around 5.45pm when traffic queues were at their peak. Traffic flow did not return to normal for another hour.

There were also long delays on the A350 and A419 leading on to the M4.

Among the vehicles stuck in the traffic was a 1950s-era Gloster Javelin jet fighter.

The 15-ton vintage fighting machine was being transported in sections on three lorries from RAF St Athan in South Wales to RAF Fairford where it will be one of the attractions at the Royal International Air Tattoo in July.

RAF Sgt, Pete Jones, said: "We set off at about 10.30am and I was expecting a three-hour journey.

"You can't plan for everything."

Because the aircraft was a wide load it was unable to get through while just one lane was open and the airmen had to wait for several hours in Leigh Delamere Services on the M4.

They eventually arrived at 7pm, more than six hours later than expected.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free a woman and her baby from their car after an accident with a tractor.

The woman, who was has not been named, was trapped in the accident on the A420 near Chippenham at 2pm yesterday.

The road was closed in both directions until 5pm as the fire brigade removed the roof and dashboard of the woman's saloon.

The woman, from Chippenham, was airlifted to Royal United Hospital, Bath hospital with serious injuries.