A fatal accident on the A34 through Oxfordshire this morning led to two further serious collisions.

One person died and a number of people were seriously injured in the accidents, which happened between 2.31am and 4.51am on the southbound carriageway between the Marcham and Milton interchanges.

A spokesman for South Central Ambulance Service said the first accident involved a car which overturned and rolled about 50 metres.

She said one person died, one was thrown from the car and two others were trapped in the wreckage. A police helicopter was dispatched to take at least one of the injured people to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital. Their condition is not known.

A pile-up involving two cars and a lorry in the tailbacks to the first accident happened 40 minutes later at 3.09am.

One person was trapped and taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital by ambulance crews. The extent of their injuries is not known.

And a lorry carrying acid was involved in a further tailback collision at 4.51am.

The A34 was initially closed in both directions between the A415 Marcham Road and the A4130 but the northbound carriageway was later reopened.

The southbound carriageway remains shut and it is not known when it will be reopened.

A diversion has been set up along the A415 and A338 to Wantage. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.