A stretch of the M4 motorway near Cardiff has been closed after police were called to an incident on the road, causing significant disruption for drivers in the area.
The closure is in place between two major junctions near the Welsh capital, with traffic backing up as motorists are forced to find alternative routes. Officers remain at the scene as the incident continues to be dealt with.
South Wales Police have not yet released full details about the nature of the incident, but the closure has been in place long enough to cause considerable tailbacks across the surrounding road network.
Drivers heading in and out of Cardiff are being urged to avoid the affected stretch of the M4 entirely if possible. Traffic management systems are in operation and diversions have been put in place to help redirect vehicles away from the closed section.
The M4 is one of the busiest roads in Wales, serving as a key artery connecting Cardiff to Swansea in the west and the English border to the east. Any closure on the motorway tends to have a knock-on effect across a wide area, with local roads quickly becoming congested as traffic spills off the motorway and onto alternative routes.
Commuters and haulage drivers are among those most affected, with delays expected to continue until the road is fully reopened. People with journeys planned through the area are being advised to check live traffic updates before setting off and to allow extra time if travel is unavoidable.
Authorities have not confirmed when the motorway is likely to reopen, and updates are expected to be issued as the situation develops.