TWO accidents on the on the M4 caused severe tailbacks during rush hour traffic yesterday morning.

The first was a multi-vehicle accident, involving eight cars, on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 17 and 16, Chippenham and West Swindon, at approximately 7.25am. Cars were involved in shunt type collisions.

The driver and passenger of one vehicle have been taken to the Great Western Hospital with minor injuries.

At least three of the vehicles, which were a Honda Civic, Rover Maestro and a Ford Fiesta, required recovery from the scene causing severe congestion on the motorway.

Jennifer Baker, a driver who was stuck in the traffic jam described the motorway as "a carpark".

"I switched my engine off because I was waiting so long. Other people were getting out of their cars and walking around.

All three lanes were at a complete standstill for almost half an hour," she said.

In a separate incident a Yaris saloon collided with the central reservation at around 9am but the female driver was uninjured.