Motorists are being warned of “treacherous” conditions on a Hampshire motorway this morning.

Police are urging drivers to use the M3 for “essential journeys only”, after the route was battered by snow and heavy rain in the early hours.

And the Arctic conditions are set to continue throughout the day, with Met Office forecasters putting snow warnings in place throughout the weekend.

Police say that the worse effected section of the M3 is north of fleet, where a spokesperson said that “only lanes one and two are passable with care”.

But the motorway has also been hit by a torrent of heavy rain near Winchester, causing dangerous driving conditions.

 

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Officers have also encouraged motorists to take essential supplies with them when travelling, including hot drinks, food and warm clothing.

As reported in today's Daily Echo, the bone-chilling conditions are a stark contrast to the weather this time last year.

Just 12 months ago Hampshire was basking in temperatures of 20C.

But today the county is knee-deep in mud and water, with Hampshire's tourism industry bearing the brunt of one of the wettest Marches on record.