Woman airlifted after pile-up

Poor weather meant the air ambulance was diverted to Oxford

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after a pile-up involving four cars and a lorry on the M4.

The accident happened shortly before 0900 BST on Monday morning, close to junction 13, near Newbury.

A helicopter attempted to fly the injured woman to Wiltshire's Great Western Hospital, but poor weather meant the helicopter was diverted to the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford.

She suffered severe head injuries, which are described as serious, but not life-threatening.

She suffered serious injuries, not believed to be life threatening, though she's in a bad way

Thames Valley Police spokesman

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: "The woman was driving a silver Vauxhall Zafira when she became involved in a collision with four cars and a flat-bed lorry.

"She suffered serious injuries, not believed to be life threatening, though she's in a bad way.

"Lane one eastbound of the motorway is closed, while accident investigators try to work out exactly what happened."

A spokesman for the Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service said: "A woman in her mid-30's suffered severe head injuries.

"We tried to convey her to the Great Western Hospital, but adverse weather conditions forced us to divert to the John Radcliffe."

The A34 is expected to reopen shortly after midday.