DRIVERS have been warned of crashes on the A31 which caused part of the road to be closed, causing significant delays.

The A31 was closed eastbound near Merley due to a crash involving two lorries, a van and a car.

A diversion caused long delays.

Meanwhile a second crash occurred on the B3074 Blandford Road at Corfe Mullen Junction - understood to have happened in the queues of the A31 closure around Wimborne.

A diversion route was in place:

From the A31 eastbound, leave at the Merley roundabout.

Use the 2nd exit and join the A341.

Follow to the next roundabout.

Use the 2nd exit and continue on the A349 Gravel Hill.

At the A341 Queen Anne Drive junction, turn left onto the A341 and follow for approximately 2 miles to the A348 Bear Cross roundabout.

Use the 1st exit and join the A348 Ringwood Road.

Follow the A348 for approximately 1 mile, through Longham and continue to the B3073 roundabout.

Use the 1st exit and join the B3073 Ham Lane.

Follow for approximately 1.5 miles to the A31 Canford Bottom roundabout.

Use the 4th exit to re-join the A31 eastbound.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: ""We were called at 9.44am on Friday 18 June 2021 to a report of a four vehicle collision on the A31 at the Canford Bottom Roundabout.

"The collision involves two lorries, a van and a car."

The road has now reopened.