A MAN had to be cut free from the wreckage of his van after crashing it as he went to overtake a lorry on the A31 near Winchester.

Firecrews were called to the collision close to the Percy Hobbs roundabout shortly after 3.20pm yesterday when another motorist who witnessed the crash called for help.

The accident caused long tailbacks after police were forced to shut the road, the Chilcomb Link, for more than two-hours as Hampshire Fire and Rescue battled to free the man and clear debris from the road.

On arrival crews found the Mercedes Van lying on its side with the driver trapped inside and complaining of back injuries.

Firefighters then used their hydraulic jaws of life to cut the injured man free from the van, before he was taken to hospital in Winchester by ambulance suffering from what were thought to be minor injuries.