THREE people were killed in Monday's M40 crash in South Oxfordshire, police have confirmed.

Two drivers and one passenger, two of whom were aged in their 80s, died in the three-car crash near Tetsworth.

Police were called shortly before 4pm after receiving reports that a Subaru Forester towing a caravan was travelling in the wrong direction on the northbound carriageway of the motorway.

READ MORE: 4x4 and caravan seen 'driving wrong way' on M40

It struck two other cars, a Ford Mondeo and a Ford Focus.

The driver and a passenger of the Subaru, both aged in their eighties, and the driver of the Ford Mondeo, a man in his thirties, died.

The carriageway was closed for 14 hours while emergency services attended and resurfacing work took place, and re-opened this morning.

READ MORE: Motorway reopens after M40 crash

Senior investigating officer Sergeant Beth Walton, from Thames Valley Police's Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "We are in the early stages of the investigation, in which sadly three people died. Our thoughts are with their families.

"We are in the process of contacting witnesses who provided a report to us and are grateful for their support.

"I would ask anyone who has footage not to share it and to remove it from social media out of respect for the families and friends of the people who died."