A WOMAN has died after a multi-vehicle pile-up on a Hampshire motorway tonight.

The woman was a passenger travelling in one of four vehicles which were in collision between junction's nine and ten on the M3 northbound carriageway near Winchester at 6.47pm.

All three lanes of the carriageway have been shut until around 4am tomorrow morning while police investigate.

Officers have yet to release details of the woman.

Drivers of three vehicles were unharmed.

Police are appealing for witnesses and want to trace the driver of the fourth vehicle thought to be involved which did not stop at the scene.

They are also trying to contact a container truck driver who stopped at the scene and spoke to Highways Agency staff but did not leave his details.

Police were initially called to reports of up to six vehicles in collison - including a lorry.

They have closed the northbound carriageway between junctions 11 and nine while one lane on the southbound carriageway has also been sealed off as emergency services attend the casualties.

Crews from Winchester, Eastleigh and Redbridge fire stations were called to the scene.

The incident caused severe delays as commuters make their way home from work with many people stuck in jams for up to an hour.

A police spokesperson said tonight: "The M3 northbound at Winchester is likely to be closed for most of this evening, please avoid the area if you can.”

Witnesses should contact police on 101.

The Highways Agency has set up diversions from junction 11 via the A3090.

Drivers should take the B3040, B3041 and B3420 towards the A34 to join the A34 northbound and head onto the A303 towards Basingstoke to rejoin the M3 at junction 8.