TRAFFIC problems plagued the M4 all day Friday, with significant hold-ups near Newport and two separate collisions recorded.

Extended tailbacks and sluggish traffic stretched in both lanes between Newport and Cardiff, with the backlog extending to nearby roads and downtown streets.

Eastbound travellers on the M4 from the Brynglas Tunnels faced considerable waits, with queues extending right back to the Castleton interchange.

This resulted in substantial congestion on the A48 Southern Distributor Road through Newport as motorists attempted to bypass the motorway.

Considerable hold-ups were also experienced on the westbound M4 at Tredegar Park.

Substantial queuing developed heading toward Cardiff from Newport following an incident on the eastbound side at approximately 4.20pm.

The incident saw one carriageway closed off between the Tredegar Park junction and the Castleton junction, though the road was reopened by 4.40pm.

Further disruption occurred along the motorway as emergency responders attended a single-vehicle collision on the westbound side at the Margham interchange.

A South Wales Police representative stated that officers attended a single-car accident at 2pm that day (August 21) on the westbound M4 between junction 38 and junction 39.

The road was cleared by 4.20pm, according to Traffic Wales.