A woman has been seriously injured in a crash on the A35.

The eastbound carriageway between Puddletown and Stinsford was closed for several hours yesterday while emergency services dealt with the situation.

The woman, from Bridport, had to be cut from her car by firefighters after the crash at around 10am. Police this morning confirmed that her blue Nissan Micra skidded on black ice and crashed into a coach which was travelling in the same direction.

The woman is being treated in hospital.

The road reopened at around 12.40pm yesterday although traffic was said to be heavy. The westbound carriageway was also reported to have slow traffic due to onlookers.

It was originally believed that two cars and a coach were involved in the crash, but Dorset Police said only one car and a coach were involved.

The central reservation was damaged in the crash and emergency services are in attendance.

A spokesman for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "Both crews from Dorchester, one from Weymouth and a landrover from Bere Regis attend a two vehicle road traffic collision on the Puddletown Bypass. One casualty was released using hydraulic cutting equipment."

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: "A two-vehicle collision occurred on the eastbound carriageway of the A35 Puddletown bypass at 10am on Saturday, February 2. A blue Nissan Micra driven by a woman from Bridport lost control on black ice. The car was then in collision with a coach owned by a local company which had been travelling in the same direction.

"The road was closed to allow the extraction of the female driver of the Nissan by emergency services. She sustained serious injuries and has been taken to hospital for treatment.

"Police would like to thank motorists for their patience and cooperation while the road was closed. The road was treated with grit for black ice and reopened at 12.30pm.

"Any witnesses are requested to contact PC 1519 Gooding of the Dorset road policing team via 101."