THE main motorway network into the New Forest ground to a halt today after a five-vehicle crash.

Commuters faced rush-hour chaos this morning when police closed the M27 westbound for two hours after a serious smash in the roadworks.

Tailbacks stretched right back to the A31 at Cadnam and some five miles in the opposite direction to junction seven at Hedge End.

Queues also stretched back along the M3 to junction 12 north of Eastleigh and there was another five-vehicle shunt in the tailback at 8.40am.

Three cars, a van and a pickup truck travelling eastbound ended up in the westbound contraflow system outside Rownhams services.

Firefighters had to cut one person free from the pickup and another from a saloon car after the accident at 7.24am.

A doctor attended the scene, as well as Hampshire Ambulance Service, three fire engines and 14 police patrol cars.

Five people were treated at Southampton General Hospital for injuries, the most serious being a broken leg.

The motorway was closed westbound between junction four, the M3 interchange, and junction three, the M27 interchange at Nursling.

It was reopened at 9.30am.