A DRIVER was scalded after opening his car's water tank when the engine overheated.

Firefighters from Eastleigh and Winchester were called to the incident between junctions 12 and 11 on the M3 northbound at 3.45am today.

The 22-year-old driver pulled over his Volkswagen Golf after the engine overheated and took the cap off the water tank but was left with a severely scalded arm.

He was taken to hospital by South Central Ambulance for treatment.