A four-mile road closure caused chaos for motorists on a stretch of the A12 today, affecting this year's Latitude festival goers.

A section of the A12 near to Yoxford, Suffolk, was shut for more than four hours following today's serious collision involving two vehicles.

The crash happened at about 1.15pm when a lorry and a car collided on the northbound carriageway just south of the village.

Police, firefighters, paramedics and the air ambulance were called to the scene, where the male driver of the car was cut free from the wreckage and airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with 'serious life threatening injuries'.

The lorry, which has been left overturned in a field, has spilled sand and shingle across the carriageway. The driver was uninjured.

Latitude festival traffic - including vans, minibuses and coaches - were diverted down the same narrow country lanes as commuters, lorries and agricultural vehicles.

The 15-mile detour saw them travel through Rendham, Sweffling, Framlingham, Baddingham, Peasenhall and Yoxford, where it rejoined the A12.

There had been significantly less impact for drivers heading southbound - away from the Henham Park festival site - who were diverted into Yoxford and back onto the main road at the Saxmundham junction further south.

An alternative route was also set up via the B1122 through Middleton to Leiston on the B1119, through Saxmundham and Benhall on the B1121, and back onto the A12.

A Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said considerable delays were 'inevitable' and advised motorists to avoid the area where possible. However previous indications suggested the road would remain closed until at least 7pm, but police confirmed it had reopened shortly after 5.30pm.

Anyone who saw the collision is asked to call the serious collision investigation team at Suffolk police on 101 quoting CAD 229 of 17/7/14.