THREE people were taken to hospital after a head-on collision near Dorchester that blocked the road and caused rush-hour delays.

Police said a red Renault car registered to a Dorchester woman and a green Rover car registered to a Poole woman were involved in the smash, which happened near the Stinsford roundabout on the A35 towards Puddletown.

Three men, a 25-year-old from Stourpaine, a 22-year-old from Bournemouth and a 56-year-old from Sydling St Nicholas, were taken to Dorset County Hospital with slight injuries after the crash, which happened at 4.50pm yesterday.

Fire crews were called to make the vehicles safe after the incident, which caused long tailbacks.