A FALLEN lamp column caused motorway traffic chaos.

Sections of the M3 and the M27 were shut on Saturday due to "emergency infrastructure works".

Highways England says a fallen lamp column between junctions 13 and 14 was behind the emergency works on the M3.

A spokesperson for Highways England says the column, which fell due to corrosion, landed across both sides of the carriageway around 7pm on Friday night.

As a result, the motorway was closed in both directions between the two junctions.

Crews from Highways England then carried out safety inspections on other lamp columns on that stretch of the road, causing partial closures of the M3 between junctions 13 and 14.

A spokesperson says the motorway was fully reopened around 10.20pm on Saturday night.