A major incident has been declared by emergency services after a stretch of the M5 was closed in both directions due to a fire on a lorry carrying electric vehicles.
The motorway was shut in Devon between junction 28 at Cullompton and junction 29 for Exeter after the incident at about 06:30 BST, police said.
National Highways said a car transporter carrying nine electric vehicles caught fire on the southbound carriageway.
The northbound side of the road reopened at about 10:20 but the southbound carriageway remains closed, with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) declaring a major incident.
Southbound traffic is being diverted from junction 28 and via the B3181 to rejoin the M5 at junction 30.
Devon & Cornwall Police has advised drivers to avoid the area if possible due to "significant traffic issues".
DSFRS said there would be "complex vehicle recovery operation" and significant resurfacing works would be done.
A spokesperson said the vehicles on the top of the transporter had been recovered but teams were waiting for the bottom half to cool before removal.
Dan Cooke told BBC Radio Devon at about 08:00 he had been in the traffic and had seen the vehicle go up in flames.
He said: "[There were] plumes of smoke, big black smoke, so we all slowed down and it was a big fireball that went up straight away, exploding across the M5. It was almost like a firework show."
He added: "Currently there are lots of emergency services here. Several fire engines.
"It's still smouldering but looks completely destroyed to be honest."
National Highways said teams did not have an estimate on when the southbound side would reopen.
A spokesperson said they were "expecting this to be several hours as the incident remains ongoing".
A spokesperson for Devon County Council said there were higher than normal traffic volumes on diversion routes.
They said there were severe delays at Bickleigh Bridge on the A396 and said people should expect delays.
The southbound carriageway was temporarily opened to let trapped traffic through but has since fully re-closed.
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