EMERGENCY repairs have been carried out after cracks appeared on the motorway.

Highways England were alerted by a member of the public that potholes were forming between junctions three and four of the westbound carriageway of the M27.

The organisation sent contractors from Kier to investigate and workers found cracks which would turn into potholes if they were left.

They then slowed traffic with a rolling roadblock so that emergency repairs could be carried out at midday today.

A spokesman from Highways England said: "We had a member of the public get in touch and say that there were potholes forming on the carriageway.

"Obviously because of the speed of the motorway if we get a call like this we have to investigate because we can't have potholes on the motorway.

"We contacted our contractors who noticed the start of some cracks which they thought could turn into potholes.

"The rolling roadblock was so that repairs could be done.

"A temporary repair was carried out because although there is some disruption with using a rolling road block it's not as much as if we were to put on a full road closure for a permanent repair."

Highways England say the road was likely to be closed overnight for a permanent repair in the coming weeks.