Portsmouth traffic: All lanes of M27 reopened following 'sudden death' of Fareham woman, 59, found on the motorway

Officers were called to the eastbound carriageway between Junction 11 and Junction 12 at around 2.20am on Wednesday morning.

Police have confirmed that a 59-year-old woman from Fareham died at the scene, with her death not being treated as suspicious and a report now being prepared for the coroner.

The woman’s family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers, according to a spokeswoman from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary.

She said: ‘’We are appealing for witnesses and information following a sudden death on the M27.

‘We would like to speak to any witnesses and anyone with relevant dash cam footage.

‘If you have any information that could assist our investigation, please call 101 quoting reference 44230012943.’

Emergency services closed the eastbound carriage of the M27 between Fareham and Port Solent for much of the morning, leading to widespread disruption and severe delays across both Fareham and Gosport, as motorists were diverted elsewhere.

The carriageway completely reopened at around 4pm.

The closure meant drivers faced delays of more than an hour on the northbound approach on Newgate Lane between B3334 and Peel Common Roundabout and around the A27 Delme Roundabout.

Hampshire County Council's traffic update service ROMANSE posted a Google Maps screenshot of the traffic chaos across Fareham, with dozens of tributary roads leading to the M27, A27 and Newgate Lane clogged with traffic.

It is the second time that Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary have been called to a motorway fatality in less than a month.

On December 22 last year, officers confirmed that a woman in her 50s from Hayling Island had died after falling from Purbrook Way bridge, which passes over the A3(M) between junctions 3 and 4.

Anyone with information about these incidents can contact the police force by either phoning up, or submitting details online. If you are involved in an incident on the roads, you should immediately call 999.