CHRISTMAS Eve got off to the worst possible start for one motorist on the M4 near Reading this morning.

The car was completely gutted by flames on the London-bound carriageway between junction 12 (Theale) and junction 13 (Newbury).

Firecrews from Caversham Road, Whitley Wood and Newbury attended the scene.

The incident caused major disruption on the M4 as traffic which was halted for 25 minutes before the motorway was re-opened at 10.15am. It is understood no-one was injured.