A MAJOR Hampshire motorway has been closed due to an incident causing traffic chaos for motorists heading home for the weekend.

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The M27 at junction two for the A36 Ower has been closed, according to traffic and travel information provider Romanse.

The accident occurred between two vehicles on the A31 westbound between Stoney Cross and Picket Post and emergency service closed the westbound A31 between the M27 junction two and the A338 near Ringwood.

One woman has been taken to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries and another woman was discharged at the scene with minor injuries.

Police have now announced that the road will be closed until at least 7.45pm and that traffic is being turned around to join the westbound carriageway.

Vehicles were being diverted off the M27 at junction two to avoid the incident which emergency services rushed to.

Police, fire and the air ambulance have all attended the ongoing incident and people have reported that two of the cars ended up in ditches.

Hampshire police said they were called to the A31 westbound just after Stoney Cross at 3.29pm.

They have warned motorists travelling home at rush hour to avoid the area if possible and for drivers stuck in the severe tailbacks to remain in their cars.

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance service said: “We were called at 3.33pm to a road traffic collision involving two vehicles.

“The Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance is on route. We also sent our hazardous response team and two ambulance crews.”

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance said: “The incident is still ongoing and our officers are treating two patients who have been injured as a result of the collision, both of whom are female.”

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said two fire one from Brockenhurst and one from Burley have attended the scene and that: “The incident involved two private vehicles, one on the highway and one off the highway. One female was extracted from one vehicle.”

The incident has caused major delays as the westbound carriageway of the A31 has been closed and police say there could be delays eastbound as well as they deal with the collision.

Traffic on the M27 is being diverted off the motorway at junction two and at the roundabout are being advised to take the first exit onto the A326.

Highways England are advising that people turn right onto the A35 then continue onto the A3060 and then turn right onto the A338 at Ashley Heath Roundabout to join the A31.

Drivers heading west between Rownham’s services and junction two are also experiencing slow traffic.