A WOMAN in her sixties was rushed to hospital in a serious condition after a crash on the M3.

Six people were treated by paramedics after the smash involving three vehicles between junctions 13 and 12 for Eastleigh yesterday.

Due to the crash tailbacks stretched up to eight miles down the M27 westbound.

Motorists heading north and south on the M3 also experienced long delays.

The woman, believed to be in her sixties, was taken to Southampton General Hospital in a serious condition.

A man has also been taken to Royal South Hants Hospital but the severity of his injuries is not known.

Motorists were warned to avoid the area after the crash just before 10am.

Two lanes were closed and a red traffic alert lasted until 1.30pm.

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance said yesterday: “We were called at 9.48am to the M3 northbound at Chandler’s Ford to a road traffic collision.

“We sent out Hazardous Area Response team, two ambulance crews and two ambulance officers.

“The crash involved two cars and a van and we were treating six patients. Four patients were treated at the scene and didn’t need hospital treatment.

"A man was taken to on to the Royal South Hants hospital and then a female in her sixties who had sustained serious injuries as a result of the collision was taken to Southampton General Hospital.”