HUNDREDS of drivers were stuck on the A338 Spur Road on Saturday afternoon following two separate incidents.

A two-car crash occurred on the northbound carriageway between Cooper Dean Roundabout and Blackwater Junction at 4.40pm.

Police, the fire service and ambulance attended.

The road was initially blocked by emergency vehicles.

The crash involved a black Vauxhall Insignia, registered to a woman from Hampshire, and a silver VW Golf, registered to a man from Christchurch.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service sent three fire engines to the scene.

One crew stayed to make the scene safe and left at 5.30pm.

No one was injured in the crash, however, a spokesperson for South Western Ambulance Service said one patient was treated for minor injuries.

Following the crash, a vehicle caught fire near Blackwater on the same carriageway at 6.14pm.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were called at 6.16pm by Dorset Police. 

At one stage, traffic heading towards Bournemouth was held at Ashley Heath while northbound traffic was held at Cooper Dean.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said the road surface had to be gritted and sanded following the fire.

The road was reopened just after 8pm.

Adam Lloyd, 32, who lives near Castlepoint, was travelling to Ringwood when he got stuck in the traffic.

He said: “We saw the crash between two cars but then all of a sudden it came to a standstill and there was black smoke.”

Drivers then made way for a fire engine before people got out of their cars.

He added: “One bloke was on his car roof sunbathing.”

“There was also an ice cream van and my sister, who was behind us said ‘there’s an ice cream truck in front of me’ and people were getting out of their cars and queuing for ice cream.”

There were reports of tailbacks to Bournemouth.