Drivers across the United Kingdom faced a perfect storm of traffic chaos and soaring temperatures as the August bank holiday drew to a close, with a string of major incidents causing widespread disruption on some of the country’s busiest roads. From Hertfordshire to South Gloucestershire and beyond, authorities scrambled to contain fires, manage collisions, and keep frustrated motorists informed as queues stretched for miles and delays mounted well into the evening.
On the morning of August 26, 2025, the usually busy M25 ground to a halt in the anti-clockwise direction between junction 25 at Enfield and junction 24 at Potters Bar. According to BBC News, a hay lorry caught fire, forcing National Highways to stop all vehicles in the affected section. The incident, first posted by National Highways at around 05:50 BST, resulted in an immediate warning to drivers: delays of up to 60 minutes and congestion stretching seven miles (11 km) were expected, with a spokesperson urging, “Drivers to be patient while attempts were made to get traffic moving again soon.”
As the morning wore on, the scale of the disruption became clear. Three lanes were closed due to the fire, causing what Newsquest described as “severe delays and heavy traffic.” Motorists were strongly advised to avoid the area altogether, and the live news feed covering the incident concluded later that day, underscoring the protracted nature of the response and the impact on thousands of commuters.
But the M25 wasn’t the only major artery brought to a standstill. The previous day, August 25, saw a dramatic blaze on the A14 near Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire. At 4:15 pm, a lorry carrying approximately 50 tonnes of bailed straw became, in the words of Cambridge Fire and Rescue Service station commander Paul Clarke, “completely engulfed in fire on the back of a lorry and trailer.” The inferno forced authorities to close both carriageways—eastbound and westbound—for at least four hours, as five fire engines from Cambridgeshire and one from Suffolk were dispatched to tackle the flames. Clarke acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating, “This is an incredibly complex incident involving approximately 50 tonnes of bailed straw completely engulfed in fire… We’re very mindful of the impact this is having and are working closely with police and National Highways to resolve this incident as quickly as we can,” as quoted by The Sun.
Social media updates and official statements repeatedly urged drivers to “avoid the area for at least the next 4 hours and find alternative routes.” The closure of such a key route during a peak travel period exacerbated congestion elsewhere, as drivers sought to navigate around the chaos.
Meanwhile, the M62 westbound suffered its own misfortune just before 3:00 pm on August 25, when a crash near junction 23 forced a full closure of the route. Huge queues quickly formed as stranded motorists, some even leaving their vehicles to stretch their legs, waited for the road to clear. The carriageway finally reopened at 3:45 pm after the crashed vehicle was moved onto the hard shoulder, but the backlog meant delays persisted until at least 4:30 pm, according to The Sun.
Tragically, not all incidents resulted in mere inconvenience. In South Gloucestershire, a young woman in her 20s lost her life in a two-vehicle collision involving a motorbike and a car on the A403 near Pilning at about 8:30 am on August 25. The A403 was closed in both directions for several hours as emergency services responded. Avon and Somerset Police issued a statement: “A motorcyclist has died in a road traffic collision in South Gloucestershire. Police, fire and ambulance services were called to the A403 Severn Road, near Pilning, after a collision between a car and a motorbike at about 8.30am this morning (Monday 25 August). The motorcyclist – a woman in her 20s – sadly died at the scene. Their next of kin has been informed and a specially-trained officer will be providing them with support. Our thoughts and sympathies are with them.” The driver of the car was unharmed and has been assisting police with their inquiries.
Elsewhere, the ripple effects of these and other incidents were felt across the country. In Exeter, the A30 was clogged with major delays, while the M5 southbound between junctions 19 and 20 crawled along after another accident. Welsh drivers fared no better, with severe delays reported on the M4 at Swansea and Newport, the A40 at Carmarthen, and the A494 at Llanbedr-Dyffryn-Clwyd, where an air ambulance landed at the scene of an accident, forcing authorities to close the road in both directions.
As if the traffic woes weren’t enough, holidaymakers heading to France faced their own set of frustrations. Wait times at the Port of Dover’s border control reached up to 75 minutes, while DFDS Live Travel Updates reported check-in delays of 40 minutes as families rushed to make the most of the last days of summer break.
All of this unfolded against the backdrop of a record-breaking heatwave. The Met Office recorded temperatures as high as 29.1°C in parts of Wales and 27°C in London on August 25, making it the warmest bank holiday on record in Wales and Northern Ireland. Beaches in Brighton, Lyme Regis, and Bournemouth were packed with sunseekers, but for many, the summer sun only added to the discomfort of being stuck in endless queues of traffic.
Authorities across the UK, from National Highways to local police and fire services, worked tirelessly to manage the fallout. Their repeated calls for patience and alternative routes were echoed by news outlets and social media, as drivers vented their frustrations and shared real-time updates from the road. The incidents served as a stark reminder of how quickly a single accident or fire can ripple across an entire region, especially during periods of peak travel.
For many, the August bank holiday of 2025 will be remembered not just for its record temperatures, but for the gridlock, delays, and, in some cases, heartbreak that marked the end of summer. With emergency services stretched and drivers urged to remain vigilant and patient, the events of these two days have left a lasting impression on the nation’s roads and those who travel them.
