Motorway mayhem after bomb scare closes the M3

Thousands of motorists were stranded for up to 12 hours after a chemical alert triggered a bomb scare closing the M3 and forcing some people to abandon their cars.

The motorway was closed in both directions near Winchester between junctions 9 and 11 from 4am as the bomb squad and fire crews were called in.

Witnesses reported motorists driving the wrong way down the hard shoulder, abandoning their vehicles altogether, or turning the carriageway into a makeshift playground.

Hampshire Police said they were unable to confirm the nature of the cargo found near a bridge over the motorway, whether it was placed deliberately or whether it was an accident.

But it comes just days after thousands of people sat in gridlock for up to 12 hours after the M1 was closed between junctions 14 and 15 because of a "suspicious object".

Thames Valley Police later said the package on the M1 could have been highly corrosive hydrochloric acid which was possibly placed there deliberately.

The M3 incident saw people post pictures on social media of the scene, with one showing a man walking his dog on the hard shoulder, others playing golf, and another doing a handstand on the carriageway.

Witness Jenna Keating, 31, a writer from Windsor, said: "There are lots of people stranded here, people have got out of their cars to stretch their legs and things, but some are just turning round and going back down the hard shoulder.

"I can't think it's a good idea to use the hard shoulder - there have been a couple of unmarked vehicles with sirens blaring coming up and using it, so it's pretty dangerous if there are cars coming in the other direction."

The chaos prevented sports fans from attending a number of matches in the South West. Manchester United fan Paul Hibbert was travelling with his friends to see his team play Southampton but decided to leave the coach and make the one-and-a-half-mile journey to Winchester station by foot.

The 53-year-old man, from Manchester, said: "People here are driving up the hard shoulder.

"One of those idiots has hit a car that pulled out in front of him - it's chaos.

"We got the National Express at quarter past midnight to London and got the 8am bus to Southampton - it's 1pm now."

Hampshire Police said: "Police were called at 3.49am to reports of potential hazardous material in the road.

"Our officers are working alongside partners from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team to establish exactly what it is.

"Nobody has been hurt in the incident."