A woman has died in a crash on the A35 near Bere Regis.

Police said five others, including a teenager, were seriously injured in the collision yesterday morning.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

They said at around 8.39am yesterday, Sunday, a two vehicle collision occurred two miles from Bere Regis toward Poole.

It involved a silver Vauxhall Astra and a silver Peugeot people carrier.

Very sadly the driver of the Astra – a 35-year-old woman from Bournemouth – died at the scene. Her family has been informed and the coroner notified.

Five people travelling in the Peugeot were trapped in the vehicle and had to be freed by firefighters from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue.

The driver – a 55-year man from Poole  – sustained serious injuries and was taken by air ambulance to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

Four other passengers sustained serious injuries and were also taken to hospital for treatment by ambulance.

Today, police have said the passengers are a man and woman both aged in their 20s, a woman in her 40s and a female in her late teens. 

The A35 remains closed between Morden Park Corner and Woodbury Cross while emergency services deal with the incident.

Sergeant Craig Tatton, of the traffic unit, said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the manner of driving of either vehicle immediately prior to the incident to please contact Dorset Police.

"I would like to thank the public for their patience during the road closures, which have been absolutely necessary to allow us to treat the injured casualties and establish the circumstances of the collision."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email at scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 11:133. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Earlier, police said a 'very serious' collision had taken place on the A35 east of Bere Regis, causing the road to be closed both ways.

Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The road will be closed until at least this evening.

The road has been closed to through traffic between Bere Regis and Morden Park Corner.

Dorset Police confirmed on Facebook that officers were called at 8.39am to reports of a two vehicle collision two miles from Bere Regis towards Poole with police confirming a 'very serious injury' collision.

The fire service are also in attendance.

The incident means there is no through route between Bere Regis and Lytchett Minster.

Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible.

Dorset Police expect the road to be closed for some time and have advised motorists to avoid the area if they can.

Travel Dorset has advised motorists to use an alternative route between Bere Regis and Poole, via A31 and A3550 both directions.

The road re-opened around 4.45pm.