DRIVERS were forced to endure traffic chaos on the same route in Chippenham on two consecutive days this week after three accidents on the A350 just south of the M4.

The first accident took place at about 8.30pm on Monday.

Two brothers from Wootton Bassett were travelling in separate cars in convoy on West Cepen Way, close to Bumpers Farm roundabout and south of the M4 junction 17.

They were on their way to Bath but had taken the wrong road.

The eldest brother, driving a Ford Puma, decided to turn his car around but when he did so he collided with his younger brother, who was driving a Mitsubishi Colt.

Traffic officer PC Tim Cook said: "The Puma driver decided to indicate to show he was about to turn round. His brother meanwhile had to overtake a Fiat Punto, which separated the two cars. As they were doing that the cars collided. It is quite unique."

Both cars were damaged beyond repair. The Puma driver, in his early 30s, had to be freed from the car by a crew of firefighters from Chippenham.

Using specialist equipment the team cut the roof from his car.

Dave Jacombe, Chippenham sub officer said: "We had to release one man from his car because it was suspected that he had suffered bad back injuries."

Ambulance technicians were on hand to ease the Puma driver's discomfort while firefighters released him.

He had complained of severe neck and back injuries directly after the crash but doctors at the Royal United Hospital in Bath found that his injuries were not serious.

The Mitsubishi driver was uninjured.

Wiltshire County Council cleared spilt petrol and car debris from the road, which was operating as normal by 10pm.

In a second accident, an elderly motorist escaped injury after his car swerved off the A350 near junction 17 of the M4 at 9.45am on Tuesday.

Then later that day two horses and two drivers escaped injury when a large horse transporter collided with a six-wheel tipper lorry. The crash, at 3.10pm on Tuesday, caused traffic chaos until the road had been cleared more than two hours later.

Traffic officer Sergeant Chris Moore said: "We are not sure why but the horse lorry left its side of the carriageway and collided with the tipper which was travelling south.

"The impact knocked the horse box from the lorry and it landed on its side."

A veterinary surgeon was called to the scene but the horses were not injured. They were led to nearby stables by their owner. The drivers of the two vehicles were treated at the scene of the accident for minor injuries and shock.

The fire brigade's new emergency support unit also attended the accident. Traffic officers managed to clear a lane of both carriageways and traffic, although heavy, continued to flow through the rush hour period.

jkelly@newswilts.co.uk