A CHILD has been rushed to hospital with facial injuries after a crash on the M3.

Three further people were injured in the collision, which closed part of the motorway between junctions 11 and 12 on the northbound carriageway, at Compton.

South Central Ambulance Service received a number of calls from members of the public just after 9am, reporting the serious incident between two cars.

A spokesperson confirmed following the crash, a one-year-old child was taken to University Hospital Southampton with facial injuries.

A consultant anaesthetist, who was on their way to work at the hospital, stopped and assisted and travelled in the ambulance with the youngster.

They also advised that an adult male was taken to Royal Hampshire County Hospital with minor injuries and two further patients were treated and discharged at the scene.

The spokesperson added: "We sent two rapid response vehicles, two ambulances and our Hazardous Area Response Team.

"The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance didn’t land at the incident in the end.

"The pilot was unable to land on the motorway and the nearest suitable location would have put them too far away from the incident, and following assessment from our staff at the scene no-one involved was thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition."

Initially the motorway was completely blocked but now the southbound side has reopened and one lane of the northbound carriageway is passable.

There are significant delays and motorists are being advised to avoid the area.