A stretch of the M40 near Bicester had to be closed yesterday after a lorry crashed and overturned spilling diesel.

Fire crews from Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington along with a specialist Environmental Protection Unit from Didcot were called to the M40 between Junctions 10 and 9 southbound just before 12pm.

ALSO READ: New bus gates will 'ban' motorists driving through Oxford city centre

The lorry driver was able to escape safely from the lorry before emergency services arrived, after it left the motorway and overturned down an embankment coming to rest in a field near to Stoke Lyne Woods.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service crews worked with Thames Valley Police, South Central Ambulance Service and Highways England to make the area safe and deal with a large diesel leak from a ruptured tank.

The motorway was closed for a short period southbound, with restricted lanes for serveral hours to allow for the recovery of the vehicle.