THE driver of a tipper lorry has died after being taken ill at the wheel near Winchester.

The 62-year-old is thought to have collapsed while driving the eight-wheel truck on the A31 near Winchester at around 5.40pm on Tuesday.

He was taken by ambulance to hospital but couldn’t be saved.

Police closed the A31 at Spitfire Link roundabout and at a cross-over point on the A31 dual carriageway between the turnings to Chilcomb and the A272, but the incident caused severe congestion until the road was reopened at around 8.30pm.

The driver who is from Alresford has not been named.

Sgt Stuart Gilmour, of Winchester police, said yesterday: “The driver was heading towards Alresford ans is believed to have had medical problems. He slowed in the middle of the road and then rolled back into two vehicles following.”