Three people have died in a horror crash after a car towing a caravan drove in the wrong direction on the M40.

The shock crash, which happened at around 4pm yesterday (Monday), resulted in hours of tailback and caused the motorway to be closed for 14 hours, with heavy delays on both carriageway this morning.

The car carrying the caravan – a Subaru Forester – was in a smash with a Ford Mondeo and Ford Focus. Sadly, the driver and passenger of the Subaru – both aged in their 80s – and the driver of the Ford Mondeo – a man in his 30s – all died.

Senior investigating officer Sergeant Beth Walton, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “We are in the early stages of the investigation, in which sadly three people died and our thoughts are with their families.

“We are in the process of contacting witnesses who provided a report to us and are grateful for their support.”

Police have also asked anyone who has footage of the incident not to share it, and to remove it from social media.