THE M40 is still closed between four junctions southbound after a 40-tonne lorry jack-knifed and shed its cargo.

The lorry, which hit the central reservation shortly before 1pm, is laid on its side across lanes two and three between between junction 7 and 6 on the south bound carriageway.

It is not expected to be removed until 9pm.

It means 19 miles of the motorway is shut.

The diversion in place is via the southbound A34 to the Peartree Interchange, the A40 past Oxford to the M40 Spur Road, the A418 past the Oxford Services, then the A40 again past Milton Common and Tetsworth to the M40 J6. Long distance traffic should use the M1 and the M6.

Motorists are reporting the closure means Oxford's ringroad is now heavily congested.