The M4 in Gloucestershire was closed in both directions between junction 20 with the M5 at Almondsbury and junction 19 at Stoke Gifford on Monday morning after horses were spotted on the carriageway. National Highways confirmed the closure, warning drivers of delays of around 30 minutes.
Traffic cameras captured the animals on the motorway during the morning rush hour. Police and traffic officers attended the scene to manage the situation. The horses were safely removed from the carriageway, and the motorway has since reopened.
Residual delays of 20 minutes and two miles of congestion remain on the approach, according to National Highways. Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported long delays due to the incident, with all lanes now reopened.
The incident caused significant disruption, with queues snaking back for miles as vehicles came to a standstill. The horses' brief escape from their paddock led to chaos for commuters.
