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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Madeleine Bourne

Bristol toddler stuck in M5 traffic entertains drivers with a drum solo

Drivers stuck on the M5 near Bristol found themselves grounded on one of the hottest days of the year. Many were faced with long delays - but the talents of a musical toddler on the motorway made people smile.

Police were called to the M5 at 1.30pm on Thursday (June 16) after a car towing a caravan overturned. The incident occurred between junction 19 (Portishead) and junction 20 (Clevedon).

Young Matilda cheered up drivers with an impromptu drum solo after the traffic ground to a halt, when it was clear that they wouldn't be moving anywhere any time soon. Her parents caught the performance on camera.

Read more: Bristol Airport passengers turn South Bristol streets into "giant unregulated car park"

In the video, Matilda is seen smiling in her summer hat as she played the drums for stranded drivers. Matilda's dad, Dave, said, "We were stuck in traffic for two hours and all the car engines were off."

Matilda took inspiration from her mother, Anna Richards, who is the Managing Director for Bristol-based Samba reggae and street drumming collective, Batala Bristol. Part of a global musical collective, the Bristol branch have been drumming since 2011.

Lanes reopened on the M5 shortly before 4pm, and police said two people were taken to hospital with injuries not thought to be life-threatening or life-changing.

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