Traffic chaos on the M4 this morning followed an accident involving a milk tanker that left the motorway and was in collision with a tree in a field.

The accident happened just after 8am on the M4 eastbound between Holyport and Slough West.

Fire crews from Maidenhead, Windsor, Slough, the Heavy Rescue Unit from Dee Road and the Operational Support Unit from Whitley Wood were sent to the scene.

Firefighters used cutting gear to rescue the driver from the vehicle, before placing him in the care of South Central Ambulance Service. Crews also assisted in making the scene safe before handing over to the Environment Agency. They are currently still on the scene.

A traffic standstill was reported for a time on the M4 eastbound between junctions 8/9 and junction 7, although two lanes reopened before 9am.

The incident had a disastrous knock on effect with traffic into Windsor along Maidenhead Road and Dedworth Road ground to a halt.

Drivers are still advised to avoid the area.

At one point Thames Valley Police Roads Policing tweeted to say delays stretch back to junction 10 near Wokingham.

The driver of the tanker lorry was taken to Wexham Park Hospital. Recovery of the vehicle is likely to lead to significant delays on the M4 for a number of hours.