A MAN was hospitalised this morning after three motorcyclists were involved in a collision with a van on the A1M.

The emergency services were called to the scene of the accident between junctions six and seven south of Stevenage on the southbound carriageway just after 7.30am.

Paramedics assessed two men and a woman before taking the rider of badly damaged blue Triumph Sprint motorbike to Lister Hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of a silver Volkswagen van was unhurt.

Rush hour traffic was badly affected on the motorway and on approaches in Stevenage with reports of traffic backed up as far as the A602 to Ware.