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  "path": "/lifestyle/cars/m4-delays-animals-traffic-gloucestershire",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-11T08:00:20.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "UK's best-selling cars so far this year including new Chinese brand - Mini, Ford, VW, Nissan and more",
    "Older motorists targeted in new safety push as poor eyesight prompts major driving licence overhaul",
    "Mini, Ford, VW, Vauxhall and more ranked in top 10 best-selling new cars in April - full list",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\n****Drivers are being warned of delays on the M4 this morning after animals were caught on the carriageway.\n\n\nTraffic was held earlier this morning on the M4 in Gloucestershire in both directions between Junction 20 (M5/Almondsbury) and Junction 19 (Stoke Gifford).\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWriting on social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, National Highways: South-West confirmed that its traffic officers were on the scene managing the incident.\n\nAt around 5.30am, the transport organisation reported delays of 30 minutes in both directions approaching the closure.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nIt has since been confirmed that the animals have been safely removed from the motorway, although drivers may still be affected.\n\nNational Highways reported residual delays of 20 minutes and two miles of congestion on the approach.\n\nTraffic cameras from the scene show police cars stopping traffic, with officers halting the morning traffic.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nWhat appears to be a horse can be seen on the hard shoulder of the motorway with a police car parked horizontally across the carriageway.\n\nLive data from National Highways shows stationary and slow-moving traffic near the private Bristol Filton Airport.\n\nAnimals halting traffic is a regular occurrence for National Highways, with the transport organisation often warning drivers of delays.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * UK's best-selling cars so far this year including new Chinese brand - Mini, Ford, VW, Nissan and more\n  * Older motorists targeted in new safety push as poor eyesight prompts major driving licence overhaul\n  * Mini, Ford, VW, Vauxhall and more ranked in top 10 best-selling new cars in April - full list\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nA notable case last December saw officers rescue a lost swan on the M1 near Northampton after it was seen wandering across the motorway.\n\nFootage from traffic cameras showed columns of vehicles halted on the M1 as a swan was spotted in the middle of the carriageway.\n\nThe swan was safely caught using a swan bag and was transported to a small lake at Junction 16 of the M1, near Northampton.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nNational Highways Traffic Officer Adrian Woods said when roads are wet, or a haze is present across the carriageway, swas may mistake the road for a body of water.\n\nHe added: \"It is a bit of a shock when they hit the ground, so the swan was a bit confused and its ego bruised.\n\n\"The incident was dealt with in around 10 minutes with traffic flowing again and the bird taken to a nearby lake where it was soon swimming away.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "M4 chaos: Drivers face delays and congestion on major motorway as animals block traffic"
}