AN overturned lorry has caused traffic chaos on one of the main routes into Southampton.

The crash on the M271 happened shortly after 2.30pm this afternoon just after the lorry had turned onto the motorway from the M27.

The articulated lorry had been fully laden with paper when it fell onto its side just 100m past the Nursling junction.

The accident caused lengthy tailbacks throughout the afternoon and into the evening rush hour after the lorry blocked one lane of the southbound carriageway.

It also fell across the central reservation forcing police to close off two-lanes of the northbound carriageway and to divert traffic onto the hard shoulder.

Around 15 firefighters from St Mary's, Redbridge and Totton were called to the scene to rescue the driver of the lorry who was trapped for over an hour.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.