Delays after severe coach fire on M4 eastbound between Bristol and Bath

The M4 was completely closed for just over an hour this morning between J19 (Bristol) and J18 (Bath) following a serious coach fire which left passengers stood on the hard shoulder as the vehicle went up in flames.

The coach fire took place on the M4 eastbound at around 11.05am this morning.

Upon receiving a number of 999 emergency phone calls, Avon Fire & Rescue Service sent five crews to the scene, two from Yate, and three from the Southmead, Temple and Patchway stations.

The entire coach was ablaze upon arrival of firefighters. The photo above was taken shortly after the bus stopped and was evacuated.

Highways England closed the M4 eastbound initially, before extending the closure to include the westbound carriageway.

#M4, traffic stopped both ways J18-J19 due to a vehicle fire. Emergency services en-route, keep hard shoulder clear. pic.twitter.com/vYCSZAD4B5

— Highways England (@HighwaysSWEST) December 5, 2015

The motorway was partially reopened at around 12.30pm, with lane one of the eastbound side still closed this afternoon for recovery to take place.

All of the passengers and the driver of the coach are safe, it was earlier announced.

The coach was owned by Edwards Coaches, and is believed to have been on a day trip to the Bath Christmas Market from Cardiff.

Large fire / blaze on m4 near #bath @NOWBath @BathEcho @BathChron @BathCoUK pic.twitter.com/WTfzXx9SN7

— Dan Maimone (@maimonedan) December 5, 2015