MOTORISTS were delayed for SIX hours on a Hampshire motorway after a caravan overturned on a neighbouring major route causing chaos to surrounding roads.

The M27 westbound was shut at Junction Two following the collision, which happened near Stoney Cross at about 2.45pm - in the first of two crashes causing gridlock in the area.

A car towing a caravan rolled over and no-one was injured, but the road was closed for the vehicles to be recovered.

It reopened shortly before 9pm.

The M27 westbound was shut from Junction Two for Salisbury so that a more suitable diversion route for traffic heading through the New Forest.

Motorists travelling to the Bournemouth area reported delays of two hours, while others gave up and left their cars at Totton station to get home faster by train.

A statement released by Hampshire Constabulary tonight said: "The westbound carriageway of the A31/M27 has now been reopened following an earlier incident involving a car towing a caravan.

"Fortunately no one was injured but there was a lot to clear up.

"We tried to do this as quickly as we could and we would like to thank everyone for their patience while we dealt with this incident."

Earlier the M271 northbound carriageway was blocked between Junction One for Brown Hill Way and the M27 Junction Three following an accident around 5pm.

One lane was closed as emergency crews work to remove a vehicle involved in the crash.

Traffic was queuing onto the A33 Redbridge Road, A34 Redbridge Causeway and onto Tebourba Way, Wimpson Lane and Test Lane.

All lanes on the M271 are now open.

Following the M27 westbound closure motorists were urged to follow the Hollow Black Square via A326 southbound past Totton then A35 westbound through Lyndhurst and Christchurch and A338 northbound to re-join the A31 at Ringwood.