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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Diesel tanker fire shuts motorway | Diesel tanker fire shuts motorway |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A fire involving a tanker carrying 29,000 litres of diesel has caused severe delays on the M4 in Berkshire. | A fire involving a tanker carrying 29,000 litres of diesel has caused severe delays on the M4 in Berkshire. |
| The motorway was closed in both directions between junction 12 for Reading and junction 13 for Chieveley. Traffic is being diverted via the A4. | The motorway was closed in both directions between junction 12 for Reading and junction 13 for Chieveley. Traffic is being diverted via the A4. |
| Emergency services were called to the westbound carriageway at 0532 BST after the tanker's axle caught alight. | Emergency services were called to the westbound carriageway at 0532 BST after the tanker's axle caught alight. |
| Crews extinguished the fire and cooled the area with 9,000 litres of water. The motorway was reopened at 0800 BST. | Crews extinguished the fire and cooled the area with 9,000 litres of water. The motorway was reopened at 0800 BST. |
| It is not known how the fire started, but crews spent more than an hour cooling the axle area on the tanker after the fire was put out. | |
| Dozens of vehicles stuck between the closed junctions were being allowed past the accident slowly, although the inside lane was still closed. The eastbound carriageway was reopened but had major tailbacks.Motorists were being advised to divert along the A4 | Dozens of vehicles stuck between the closed junctions were being allowed past the accident slowly, although the inside lane was still closed. The eastbound carriageway was reopened but had major tailbacks.Motorists were being advised to divert along the A4 |
| One motorist told BBC Radio Berkshire: "I'm trying to get to a hospital appointment. | One motorist told BBC Radio Berkshire: "I'm trying to get to a hospital appointment. |
| "I'm completely stuck, it is absolutely solid. There is no way I'm going to make my appointment on time." | "I'm completely stuck, it is absolutely solid. There is no way I'm going to make my appointment on time." |
| A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Severe delays have been caused to motorists but the motorway has now been reopened. | A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Severe delays have been caused to motorists but the motorway has now been reopened. |
| "Firefighters put the main flames out but needed extra time to extinguish smoke and steam which could have been potentially dangerous." | "Firefighters put the main flames out but needed extra time to extinguish smoke and steam which could have been potentially dangerous." |
| The fire service said the location of the tanker was on the M4 about two miles east of Chieveley. | The fire service said the location of the tanker was on the M4 about two miles east of Chieveley. |
| A Highways Agency spokesman confirmed the surface of the road was examined for fire damage before the decision was made to partially reopen the affected carriageway. | A Highways Agency spokesman confirmed the surface of the road was examined for fire damage before the decision was made to partially reopen the affected carriageway. |
| Did you see the tanker fire or traffic queues? Have you been affected by delays caused by the accident? Send us your comments using the form below. | Did you see the tanker fire or traffic queues? Have you been affected by delays caused by the accident? Send us your comments using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to 61124 or you have a large file you can upload here. Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |