A MAN has been charged after a lorry overturned on the M3, causing hours of travel chaos.

Paul Turton, from Quebec Road, Scunthorpe, is due to appear at Southampton Magistrates' Court today charged with driving without due care and attention, as well as failing to provide a specimen.

It came after the lorry, which was carrying tonnes of paper, overturned at around 9.30pm on Sunday, January 14, spilling 150 litres of fuel across the carriageway.

The incident, at junction 12 of the M3 for Eastleigh (southbound), closed the carriageway throughout the night and into the Monday morning rush hour, with Highways England saying the road and barriers needed "extensive" repair work.

Police and South Central Ambulance Service's hazardous area response team were called to deal with the incident, and a diversion was put in place via the junction 12 exit/entry slip road.

Officers urged motorist to avoid the M3 following the incident, with Hampshire Roads Policing tweeting: "This will be a long-term recovery operation ongoing for some hours."

No one was seriously injured in the crash.

Drivers on the M3 faced further delays on Monday morning after another lorry broke down on the northbound carriageway just before junction 9 for the A34 on during the rush hour.