FIREFIGHTERS were this afternoon dealing with a lorry that caught fire after it was involved in a collision with a car on the M3.

Part of the northbound carriageway has been closed and traffic slowed as firefighters deal with the incident that was reported just after 2.30pm.

Details of what caused the initial incident are unclear, but according to Hampshire police some sort of collision occurred which led to a vehicle rolling and ending up on the hard should of the carriageway of the motorway at junction 10 to Winchester.

All four occupants of the car escaped without serious injury but were being transferred to hospital as a precaution.

The lorry apparently continued along the motorway before catching fire around junction 8.

Police initially said it was the same vehicle that had overturned and caught fire, before this was realised to be incorrect.

Meanwhile motorists were being urged to avoid the area while the fire service dealt with the incident and the wreckage cleared.