A MAN has been killed following a three-vehicle road smash on the M3 - and drivers are being warned about traffic chaos in the North Hampshire area.

The man was travelling in a vehicle involved in a collision at about 6.40am on the M3 southbound carriageway between Winchester Services and Junction 8 for the A30 Basingstoke.

The motorway is expected to be closed for several hours.

The crash is causing chaos in the area with delays across the North Hampshire road network.

Traffic is being diverted at Junction 8 where drivers can take the A303 westbound and the A34 southbound to re-join the M3 at Junction 9.

A police spokesman said: "The stretch of motorway between junctions 8 and 9 will be closed for several hours.

"We would urge people to avoid the area if possible and apologise for the inconvenience that this will cause."

The crash is causing delays on the northbound carriageway due to motorists slowing down to look.

There are delays of 20 minutes in the area.