CRASHES on both sides of the M4 caused motorway misery for commuters yesterday. Huge tailbacks built up on both sides after the accidents, which happened on both carriageways between junctions 24 and 25 within 15 minutes of one another.

In the first crash, two articulated lorries were in collision in the middle lane of the westbound carriageway at around 5.30pm.

A second accident involving two cars occurred on the westbound carriageway exit slip road of Junction 24 at 5.45pm - and another crash occurred in between the junctions on the eastbound carriageway around the same time.

Firefighters from Malpas and Maindee attended and the ambulance service took four casualties with minor injuries from the three accidents, including one of the lorry drivers, to the Royal Gwent Hospital.

Inspector Chris Morgan, of Gwent Police, said: "The accidents caused tailbacks but vehicles were moving all the time."

Traffic was running normally by 7pm.