M4 shut in south Wales after Brynglas tunnel lorry fire

The M4 has been closed in both directions in south-east Wales after a lorry caught fire in the Brynglas tunnels at Newport.

South Wales Fire Service said there had been reports of explosions inside the westbound tunnel.

The road is closed in both directions between J24 A48 / A449 (Coldra) and J28 A48 / A4072 (Tredegar Park).

A diversion via the south of Newport on the A48 Southern Distributor Road is in place.

At a nearby hotel, eyewitnesses reported seeing dark clouds billowing from the tunnel just after 09:00 BST.

"There was a lot of black smoke," said Lowri Morgan, receptionist at the Etap hotel, which is situated on the west side of the tunnels alongside the eastbound carriageway.

"I didn't know anything had happened until a guest mentioned it to me.

"I went up to the top of the hotel and all you could see was the thick black smoke. It was rising above the level of the lampposts.

"It's easing off a bit now as the fire brigade are there. We heard a fire engine arrive."

The Welsh Ambulance Service say they are not aware of any casualties.

Traffic Wales reported that the fire appeared to have blacked out cameras monitoring the road in the area.

Lengthy traffic tailbacks have been reported on the M4 and adjacent routes in the area.

The motorway was also temporarily closed in February when a car caught fire in the westbound tunnel.