A LORRY has crashed into the central reservation of a Hampshire motorway, causing delays of up to two hours.

The incident has blocked the outside lane of both the eastbound and westbound carriageway of the M27 between junctions five and seven.

The crash is causing hold-ups on both carriageways on approach and drivers are warned to expect long delays, with traffic queuing as past Fareham on the westbound carriage way and as far as Ower on the eastbound one.

The Daily Echo has learned lane three on both carriageways will be closed for most of the day as Highways Agency teams repair the central reservation.

Further delays are developing on all approaches to the motorway around junctions five and seven, with huge queues of traffic across Southampton, West End, Eastleigh and Hedge End.

Daily Echo:

The road is expected to be partially closed for the majority of the morning as a result of the crash.

The central reservation has been severely damaged, and will need to be fully repaired before the motorway can be fully reopened to traffic.

It is understood the lorry 'slid' for around 200 yards down along the barrier, which has caused most of the damage.

The driver of the Southampton-based Harwoods Truck Company lorry has been taken to hospital, but is not thought to be suffering from any serious injuries.

A spokesman for the company would not comment on the incident when contacted by the Daily Echo.

The family-run business specialises in distribution and long-haul transport.

Xelabus, which runs a bus service to Barton Peveril College, has warned students to expect delays. 

Delays are easing but there is still very heavy congestion in both directions as repair work is carried out.