Drivers are experiencing serious delays in and around Oxford following a fatal accident on the A34 early this morning.

A woman died after her car left the road on the southbound carriageway, between the Pear Tree and Botley interchanges, shortly after 4.15am.

Police closed the road following the accident opposite the Wytham turn.

Three other people in the car were injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

Traffic is being diverted onto the city’s ring road, but reports indicate there are severe traffic queues on the ring road, Kidlington and in St Giles and Beaumont Street in Oxford city centre.

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said the southbound carriageway of the A34 was expected to reopen after midday.