[bbfan1991]

Three children have died and two women are seriously injured after a crash on the M6 between junctions 14 and 15, the West Midlands Ambulance Service has said.

The accident happened on the northbound carriageway between junctions 14, near Stafford, and 15, near Stoke-on-Trent.

The two women have been taken to University Hospital of North Staffordshire and are in a "stable" Three children killed in M6 crashcondition, said a hospital spokesman.

Next of kin are being informed.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Crews arrived to find a single vehicle that had crashed and overturned.

"Three children that were travelling in the vehicle suffered serious injuries. Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of ambulance crews, nothing could be done to save the two boys and one girl, and they were confirmed dead at the scene."

Accident and recovery work is under way and the northbound stretch of M6 is expected to remain shut for several hours.

The accident happened at about 1130 GMT.

Three ambulances, three paramedic officers, a doctor and two Midland Air Ambulances attended the scene.

Staffordshire Police initially said "several vehicles" had been involved, causing "multiple fatalities", but later said it was a one-vehicle crash. No further details on the number of dead have been released.

The ambulance service added: "All emergency services personnel worked seamlessly together at the scene in exceptionally difficult circumstances. Unfortunately, the outcome was not the one everyone would have hoped for."

The M6 northbound was closed after the accident
The southbound section was initially closed but had re-opened by mid-afternoon.

The northbound section remained closed, the Highways Agency reported, with traffic diverted off the motorway at junction 14, and rejoining it at junction 15.

The M6 is among a number of key routes that have been struck by weather-related delays in recent days amid heavy rain.

Earlier in Hampshire, two people were killed following a car crash, police said.

The collision was on B3349, Odiham Road, near Basingstoke, and police were notified about 10:05 GMT.

A third person, believed to be the driver of the vehicle, was seriously injured.

Condolences to the loved ones of the children that died. RIP. I hope those injured women get well soon too.