A MAN has been rushed to hospital with a serious head injury after an attack on the side of a Hampshire motorway.

Police have two men - a 27-year-old on suspicion of assault and a 36-year-old on suspicion of affray - following the incident, which broke out on the hard shoulder of the M27.

Officers were called to the scene, between junction 2 for Ower and junction 3 for Nursling at 11:46 on Sunday. Hampshire Constabulary believe a dispute broke out after an incident involving a red VW Golf estate and a silver VW Amarok.

A 46-year-old man was rushed to Southampton General Hospital with a serious head injury.

Police closed one lane of the motorway, as well as the hard shoulder, for more than an hour and a half to carry out an investigation, which caused long queues in both directions. At its peak, traffic was queued up westbound back towards junction 1 for Cadnam, while eastbound traffic faced queues towards junction 4 for the M3.

The road was reopened at around 1.50pm.

Police are now appealing for anyone with information to call 101, quoting reference 44170210994. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.