A driver has been arrested on suspicion of death by dangerous driving after an elderly woman died in a three-car crash on the M40 this morning.

The woman, a passenger in one of the cars, was taken to Wycombe Hospital but later pronounced dead.

It is not yet known if the arrested driver is a man or woman.

Two other people have been taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with non-life threatening injuries, and another person was treated at the scene.

Drivers are facing delays because all southbound lanes between junction six at Watlington and junction five at Stokenchurch are closed, as is lane three on the northbound side.

Police and ambulance crews were called at around 9.45am to the accident, and the air ambulance also attended.

A diversion is in place between the B4009 and the A40 to the M40 junction five. There is a mile-and-a-half of solid traffic on the southbound stretch approaching the accident.

Thames Valley police spokesman David Staines said: “One person was arrested at the scene on suspicion of death by dangerous driving.

“As yet we can’t confirm whether it is male or female.”

Highways Agency spokesman James Wright said: “This is a police-led incident. We may have some repair work to do when they leave.

“At the moment the traffic is not too bad, given how long the incident has been there. Traffic gets heavier from just after junction seven.

“However it could get worse as the Easter traffic hits the roads and we would encourage people to plan their journeys accordingly.”