Drivers have been warned to expect delays this afternoon after a major motorway was forced to shut following a collision, causing huge levels of congestion.

The M3 in Surrey is closed westbound between J3 Bagshott Interchange and J4 Frimley Interchange due to the incident, which involved multiple vehicles.

Surrey Police, Surrey Fire & Rescue, South East Coast Ambulance Service, an Air Ambulance and National Highways Traffic Officers are currently on scene.

National Highways has now urged drivers to follow a diversion route in place while they work on alleviating traffic in the area.

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

The diversion advises drivers to follow the Solid Triangle diversion symbol on road signs, which takes them off the M3 southbound, leaving at junction 3.

At the roundabout, drivers should use the third exit and join the A322 dual carriageway. At the junction with the A30 London Road, turn left and join the A30.

From here, drivers should continue on the A30 for approximately 4.5 miles through Bagshot and Camberley.

At the A321/A331 roundabout, drivers need to use the first exit and join the A331 and continue on the A331 for approximately 1.5 miles to the M3 junction 4 north roundabouts.

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

Drivers need to use the first exit and pass beneath the M3 to the south roundabout and use the third exit at the roundabout to rejoin the M3 southbound.

National Highways warned that if this closure impacts planned journeys, drivers should allow extra time and even re-route or delay journeys.

Updating drivers, the agency shared on X: "If you're heading M3 westbound, please be aware the carriageway remains closed between J3 (Lightwater) and J4 (Frimley) following the collision. Traffic held eastbound."

Normal traffic conditions are expected to return between 2:30pm and 2:45pm later today.

National Highways shared that three of the four lanes are now closed on the M3 westbound between J3 Lightwater and J4 Frimley, following the collision, with all lanes open eastbound.

There are currently delays in excess of 45 minutes on approach, with drivers urged to still follow the diversion route.

According to the RAC, junction three of the M3 is one of the worst junctions on the motorway. "This interchange near Lightwater can get congested due to road users making their connection into West London from the M4 down the A322," the insurer explained.

The RAC shared: "The stretch between junctions 2 and 3 -with two tricky junctions to tackle, set only a few miles apart is considered an accident blackspot."

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS