FRUSTRATED drivers were stuck in their cars after an extensive oil spillage closed a section of the M5 in Worcestershire for eleven hours.

A heavy goods vehicle spilt approximately 110 litres of hydraulic fluid across three miles of the M5 southbound between Droitwich and Worcester at 2pm.

Drivers found themselves trapped on the motorway for hours while specialist crews carried out a clean up before the southbound carriageway between junctions five and six was reopened at 12.50am this morning (Thursday).

Kirsten Chandler Beech wrote on the Worcester News Facebook page: "Sat in it now and watching people abandoning cars and hurdling the barriers into the workmen's toilets!

"Three hours and 1.2 miles covered.

"My 4 yr old has eaten all I can rustle up and now worrying about running out of fuel!

"Nightmare on the M5!!"

Later she wrote: "Our 5th hour.....in the distance can see Droitwich junction!

"Four year old been in car for 7 1/2 hours and is now being sick and out of supplies. M5 Nightmare! Hope everyone gets home safe."

Nicola Gandy said it took her more than four hours to do a 40 minute journey while Stephanie Owen took five hours to get home compared to the usual 45 minutes.

Simon Foxall, Highways England operations manager, said they had to make sure the road was safe before reopening it to drivers.

“Safety is our top priority, and we could not reopen the carriageway until it was completely safe for road users.

“We worked as hard as we could with our contractors to reopen the carriageway as quickly as possible, and we thank drivers for their patience.”

A hydroblaster – specialist high pressure waterblast equipment – was brought to the motorway and used to clear the spillage.

It allowed the motorway to be reopened without the need for resurfacing, which would have meant a longer closure.

Planned overnight closures that were due to take place between 10pm and 6am on the stretch of the M5 last night were cancelled to allow the carriageway to reopen as quickly as was safely possible.