ONE person was hurt in a 15 vehicle pile-up which caused chaos on the M5 near Cribbs Causeway yesterday.

The female casualty, who had to be cut free from a car, was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital by helicopter with injuries later described as non-life threatening.

A coach was also involved in the collision on the southbound carriageway between junctions 17 and 18 at around 5.30pm.

Around 10 people suffered minor injuries but did not need hospital treatment.

Police closed the motorway in both directions, causing massive tailbacks and long delays for Christmas shoppers leaving the Cribbs Causeway regional shopping complex.

The northbound carriageway had to be closed to enable the helicopter to land safely.

Both carriageways were closed for about an hour while rescue and vehicle recovery operations went ahead, but the southbound carriageway was not fully opened until almost 8pm.