A 'SERIOUS collision' - the second crash in just four hours - closed a section of Oxfordshire's busiest thoroughfare yesterday. 

Late on Saturday morning a crash on the southbound stretch of the A34 near Chilton led to Highways England shutting the road for recovery work.

After the road had re-opened and at about 3.15pm a second crash was reported on the same road and near the same location.

This left the road shut in both directions with stranded motorists being diverted off where possible.

Highways England warned drivers to avoid the area saying the southbound carriageway at Chilton could stay shut 'for some time' after the 'serious' collision at East Ilsley.

Highways tweeted shortly before 8.30pm reporting that both the northbound and southbound sides had reopened. 

Thames Valley Police had previously advised motorists to avoid the area.

The force said: "The A34 [was] closed in both directions due to a serious road traffic collision near East Ilsley.

"The closure [was] in place from the A339 Vodafone roundabout at Newbury northbound and traffic is being diverted off the A34 southbound at East Ilsley and Compton.”

Officers added at about 4.30pm: "If you are stuck in the queue southbound, please be patient.

"We are attempting to relieve traffic from the rear of the queue. Please try and stay hydrated."

With temperatures this afternoon soaring at 33 degrees Celsius, some stranded drivers got out of their cars and stood in the road.

This picture was taken by Twitter user 'Josh Tommo' shortly after 4.30pm.

Oxford Mail:

This image was taken by Ian Care at about 4.15pm, with traffic having been halted for about an hour.

Oxford Mail:

It is not yet known if anybody has been injured and while an air ambulance was spotted in the area, it has since left.

South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for information. 

For regular updates visit our traffic feed here.