SIX people were 'lucky' to escape without serious injuries after a four-car crash closed a major road for almost five hours.

The air ambulance was called to the A35, which was closed in both directions between the B3058 Holmsley Road and Lyndhurst Lane, shortly after 11am on Friday.

A South Central Ambulance Service spokesman said: "There were six patients involved in the four vehicle accident.

"Four of them (one child and three adults) sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

"Two female patients, one in her early 70s and one in her early 20s have sustained shoulder, hip and back injuries – not serious or life-threatening – but requiring further treatment at hospital."

They were taken to Southampton General Hospital.

Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, a paramedic team leader and the air ambulance attended, the service said.

Brendan Harvey, senior ambulance officer at the incident, said: “All those involved in the accident were extremely lucky.

"Two of the four vehicles involved left the road and narrowly missed some very large trees.

"The other two vehicles on the road were extensively damaged.

"A few feet either way for the vehicles involved and it could easily have been a lot worse, with many of those involved suffering serious and potentially fatal injuries."

The road reopened shortly after 4pm, but motorists were warned about extensive damage to the road surface.

An Audi A7, a Renault Scenic, a Vauxhall Corsa, and a Ford Fiesta were involved.

Matt Pinner, whose partner was involved in the crash, said: "I got a call at around 11.05am from my girlfriend saying she had been involved in an accident on the main road which goes into Lyndhurst just past the bridge section.

"When I got to the scene around 11.10am there was a red car with three people inside.

"My girlfriend's green Vauxhall was pushed into the side of the verge.

"There was a brown Vauxhall on the other side.

"The police said a black Audi probably burst a tyre going towards Lyndhurst. It took out all the other cars.

"The Audi crashed head on with the red car and took out the other two cars."

A second crash on the A35 shortly after 6pm caused further delays for drivers.