Lengthy delays on A5 at Shrewsbury after hay lorry fire
The A5 in Shropshire has reopened after more than nine hours after a lorry carrying hay bales caught fire.
The blaze, at 0500 BST near Shrewsbury, led to the closure of the westbound section between the Preston and Emstrey roundabouts, police said.
The fire took several hours to extinguish, with the bales moved to a nearby field as they smouldered.
The driver of the lorry was not injured. Motorists are still being warned of delays.
Police have set up a contra-flow around Emstrey Island, allowing the westbound A5 dual carriageway to be reopened to traffic at about 1430 BST, police said.
'Time to cool'
Sgt Darren Heyes, said tailbacks would still take some time to clear but that the move should ease much of the congestion on other roads caused by diversions and closures.
"The dual carriageway narrows from two lanes to one at the island, where the contra-flow is in place anti-clockwise for cars travelling from the Preston Island," he said.
"I would urge all drivers to take care and check their speed when travelling along the dual carriageway to accommodate the move from two lanes to one."
A police spokesman said when the fire was out, the lorry would need time to cool down before it could be moved.
The road surface may well have also been damaged.