Ice may have been the cause of a dramatic accident on the M40 near Banbury last night in which a lorry crashed through the central reservation barriers.

The driver of the 38-tonne Iveco lorry, which was travelling north, lost control of his vehicle. It crossed the central reservation and the southbound carriageway, continued down an embankment, before colliding with a car.

The driver of another car travelling on the southbound carriageway managed to avoid a collision and ended up on the northbound carriageway.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which happened at about 8.30pm.

A man and woman were taken to The Horton Hospital, Banbury.

None of their injuries was life-threatening, according to a spokesman for Oxfordshire Ambulance Service, which sent four crews at the scene.

Thames Valley Police said the articulated lorry would be recovered later today.

A police spokesman said it was unbelievable no other vehicles had been involved at such a busy time on the motorway.