Hazardous chemicals have leaked onto a British motorway in the wake of a serious crash as emergency crews closing the road for "safety reasons".

Southbound lanes of the M40 are closed between Oxford and Watlington following the collision, involving a car and a tanker at approximately 7:45pm Monday, November 18.

As per a statement from National Highways, emergency services are at the scene working with specialist teams to "safely contain and clear a spillage of bitumen from the damaged tanker".

A National Highways spokesperson added: "Specialist recovery has been arranged and, once on scene, will recover the tanker overnight."

"Lane three within the closure has been reopened to release trapped traffic, but the main carriageway must stay closed for safety reasons.

Bitumen is haz

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