A CRASH involving two lorries brought further misery to the M40 tonight after an earlier pile-up closed the motorway.

The exit slip road on the northbound carriageway at junction ten, at Ardley, leading to the A43 was closed. Emergency services are on the scene.

Earlier, the M40 was closed near Banbury today after a crash involving three lorries and two cars.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash between junctions 12 and 11.

During the day, the M40 was closed southbound between junction 11 at Banbury and junction 15.

Two lanes of the northbound carriageway were closed between junctions 12 and 11, but were reopened at 3.30pm.

The southbound carriageway was opened this evening.

Police said the accident happened on the northbound carriageway and crossed over to the southbound, with vehicles on the southbound also colliding with the vehicles.

Police said the southbound closure had been moved back to junction 15 for diversion purposes.

The Highways Agency official diversion was via the A46, A45, A46, M6 and M1.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "There was heavy congestion in the Banbury area and there were extensive tailbacks on the motorway.

"Five vehicles were involved in the collision, three lorries and two cars. One person has serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Wargrave Hospital in Coventry.

"A man has been arrested at the scene in suspicion of dangerous driving and is in police custody."

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact Sgt Pete Jell at Bicester Roads Policing via 0845 8 505 505, or if you do not want to talk to the police or give your name, call the Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

  • Problems were also reported on the M40 in south Oxfordshire after a 4x4 towing a trailer overturned on the northbound carriageway between junction six at Watlington and junction seven for Thame.

Police said congestion built up back to junction five.