AN ANDOVER motorist has been detained on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a rush-hour pile-up in which four people were killed.

The crash, which closed a section of the A34 in Berkshire for several hours, involved four heavy goods vehicles and four cars.

Police confirmed that a 45-year-old woman, an 11-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy died at the scene.

A 30-year-old man from Andover was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and bailed until October.

A man was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with life-threatening injuries and two other people were taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital with minor injuries.

Nine other people who were slightly hurt were treated at the scene following the accident near East Isley, close to the M4, which happened shortly after 5pm on Wednesday.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "A man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving."

The force posted on Twitter that the road had fully reopened following the crash.