NEW traffic officers will be patrolling the motorways of Hampshire from today.

Highways Agency officers will be working in partnership with police on the M3, M27, M271, M275, the A3 (M) and part of the A27.

They started patrolling motorways in Surrey in August last year and in Kent in January.

The new officers aim to make journeys safer, keep traffic moving and ensure that motorists are kept informed.

An agency spokesman said the service has proved a great success, with traffic officers dealing with about 4,000 incidents a month.

Roads minister Dr Stephen Ladyman, said: "This is excellent news for drivers in Hampshire.

"Traffic officers are already playing an increasingly important role on our motorways, freeing up valuable police resources, making sure our roads are safer and that traffic is kept moving.

"Drivers will benefit from more reliable journey times as well as up-to-the minute information about conditions on the local motorway network."

A total of 177 on-road staff will be supported by 41 staff working from the regional control centre in Surrey.