TWO people were taken to hospital this morning after a three vehicle crash on the A31 at Ringwood.

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it deployed two crews at 10.29am to the incident on the westbound carriageway at Picket Post. .

The casualties, a man and woman, both in their 80’s, had to be cut from a vehicle before being taken to Southampton General Hospital by ambulance.

A lane was closed during the incident and motorists experienced delays of up to 40 minutes.

There was congestion heading back to junction one of the M27 and the B3079 turn off for Cadnam with reports of three-and-a-half mile tailbacks.

The accident was cleared at around 12.10pm and both lanes are now open.