Crash and separate car fire on M3 cause long delays on Hampshire motorway

The first incident happened on the southbound side of the M3 near Basingstoke between Junction 6 and Junction 7, just before 5pm on Sunday, March 27.

Long delays formed as two lanes were closed.

Then, on the other side, northbound, a car fire saw the inside and middle lane closed.

Pictures sent to this newspaper show firefighters battling the blaze.

One car passenger, who did not want to be named, said: "We were in traffic and just before we got to the crash there was a huge fire. It happened in front of our car. It was awful."

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There were queues of up to four miles that way, but the car fire is now out. All lanes reopened northbound shortly after 8pm.

A Tweet from National Highways: South-East said: "The fire has been extinguished and the lane closures have been removed on the #M3 eastbound between J8 #A303 & J7 near #Basingstoke long delays currently remain on approach from J9 #Winchester but will begin to ease. Thanks for your patience #Hampshire."

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