MOTORISTS were stuck in delays on the A31 after a lorry crashed into a tree.

The M27 westbound carriageway was shut at junction two on Monday evening when a tree fell across the carriageway of the A31 after the lorry left the road and crashed into it.

The driver was taken to hospital following the crash which took place between the M27 junction one at Cadnam and Rufus Stone Services at 6.50pm.

Police say the driver was reported as being conscious following the collision which caused the tree to become embedded in the vehicle’s cab.

But one lane was closed to recover the vehicle which caused major tailbacks onto the M27 as people returned from the Bank Holiday break.

The westbound carriageway of the motorway was also completely shut at junction two so that heavy vehicles could be diverted onto the A35.

There are queues approaching the closure.

The diversion was to follow the hollow square symbol - via A35 through Lyndhurst to Christchurch, then A3060, then A338 northbound to rejoin the A31 at St Ives.

The eastbound carriageway is unaffected by the incident.

The road was due to be closed until the early hours to remove the tree after the lorry has been recovered.

A police spokeswoman said: “A lorry was witnessed crashing into a tree. The driver was reported as conscious and went to hospital.

“The lorry was in the ditch, not quite on its side but with a large tree overhanging. Recovery were called as the tree was embedded into the cab.”