POLICE are appealing for witnesses following the seven-car M5 pile-up this afternoon (August 1) which left a 23-year-old man in critical condition and a 19-year-old woman in a serious condition.

Emergency services were called to the crash shortly after 2pm this afternoon after seven vehicles - including two lorries - collided on the M5 southbound at Michaelwood services, near Dursley.

Two air ambulance services were called to the incident and 14 further people were treated by paramedics for minor injuries.

A 23-year-old man from Coventry suffered serious head injuries in the crash and is in a critical condition at Southmead Hospital.

A 19-year-old woman who was a passenger in the same vehicle was also taken to Southmead with pelvic injuries - she remains in a serious condition.

Police are appealing for witnesses - including a man stood on the nearby footbridge and witnessed the entire incident - to come forward.

The southbound carriageway was closed for much of the day, resulting in traffic queuing for miles, before two lanes were re-opened shortly after 9pm and the remaining lane an hour later. Police officers remain on the scene.

Anyone who can help the investigation team is asked to call 101 and quote incident 214 of August 1.