MOTORISTS faced long delays on the A34 this afternoon after a car caught fire north of Oxford.

Reports said the car was ablaze near the Pear Tree interchange just before 1pm.

Police closed the dual carriageway in both directions for a time as officers felt the thick drifting smoke was causing a danger to motorists.

Police later reopened the road apart from one northbound lane.

Long queues quickly built up in both directions, stretching back to junction nine of the M40 on the southbound carriageway.