M3 traffic - live: Motorway closed with four-mile queues after huge diesel spill

The M3 has been forced to close after a lorry ploughed into the central reservation and spilled 300 litres of diesel on the road.

The crash , near Winchester, Hampshire, has caused serious disruption, with commuters warned the motorway will stay closed throughout the "morning peak period".

The eastbound and westbound carriageways were closed completely after the crash with all eastbound lanes still shut. A diversion is in place via the A34.

Stagecoach has said services will be delayed and cancelled due to the ongoing closure on the M3.

The latest update from National Highways shows the M3 eastbound between junctions J12 and J9 is subject to congestion. There are currently delays of 24 minutes against expected traffic.

Road users are advised to exit at J9 and follow the route marked with a solid diamond symbol on local road signs:

If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time. Plan ahead, you may wish to re-route or even delay your journey.

Maps from Google Traffic show disruption stretching back from junction 9 near Winchester as far as junction 13 in Chandler’s Ford near Southampton.

National Highways said: “The M3 eastbound in Hampshire is closed between J9 Winnall Interchange and the Popham Junction with the A303.

“A Heavy Goods Vehicle struck the central reservation at approximately 01:00 resulting in its fuel tank becoming ruptured.

“As a result, there is a large amount (300 litres approximately) of diesel now spilt across the carriageway.

“A full resurfacing of the road is required and therefore the M3 is likely to remain closed through the morning peak period whilst this is carried out.

“If this closure impacts on your planned route, please allow extra journey time.

The disruption comes after a lorry hit the central barrier between Junction 9, for the Winnall Interchange, and Junction 8, for the Popham Junction, at around 1am this morning.