MOTORISTS we stuck in stand still traffic for nearly three hours following more than 17 tonnes of diesel was spilled on the M3.

As previously reported by the Gazette, a lorry flipped on to its side just shortly after junction 11 on the southbound carriageway of the motorway.

As a result, emergency service had to close off the road to deal with the situation.

However, motorists who were in the resulting traffic were not given any information as to what was happening and were sat in the traffic for nearly three hours before being diverted off.

Stevie Knight was heading back to his home in Eastleigh after visiting friends in Basingstoke before he got stuck in the traffic.

He said: “I left my friends around quite late thinking there wouldn’t be much traffic on the road.

“As I approached the junction I could see the traffic slowing down, I was probably about 12 or so cars back from what had happened.

“Everyone was just sat there an after a while people started getting out of their cars to stretch their legs, but no one was saying what was going on, all we saw was the emergency service vehicles go flying past.

“I had my dog with me so just walked him up and down the carriageway until things started moving again.”

He added: “When we were finally diverted off all you could see was a sea of blue flashing lights.”

Police reported that the incident took place around 11.45pm last night (November 16), with traffic being diverted off at Junction 11 and back on at the Hockley light junction.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Constabulary said: “”e are still looking at what made the vehicle go on its side.”