POLICE have slammed motorists who sped through road diversions set up after two Weymouth pensioners died in a horror car smash.

Traffic chaos yesterday hit Weymouth and Dorchester when the elderly couple lost their lives in a head-on collision at the top of Ridgeway Hill.

The male driver, 84, died at the scene and roadblocks were in place for more than four hours as paramedics battled to save his 85-year-old female passenger, who died en route to Dorset County Hospital.

Traffic gridlock built up on the A354 at the bottom of Ridgeway Hill and the Came Down and Winterborne Monkton turn-offs, with queues also snaking along the Dorchester bypass and past Herringston Manor.

Police officers were forced to appeal to motorists to respect the diversions after some sped past in a bid to reach their destinations.

Dorset Police spokesman Andrew Wright said: "We had instances where some drivers drove through without thinking the emergency services needed to do their jobs quickly and efficiently.

"Officers had to tell them to go back.

"They should have respected the signs that were put in place to assist traffic flow."

High winds and driving rain hampered accident investigation experts from scouring the crash scene.

The Weymouth couple had been heading south when their blue Reliant Robin was in collision with the northbound silver Nissan Micra, between the Bincombe turn-off and where the A354 widens into three lanes.

Firefighters used hydraulic cutting equipment to free two women from the Nissan Micra.

The 19-year-old driver, from Chickerell, has been released from hospital after suffering chest injuries while her 47-year-old passenger had treatment to her leg.

A black Ford Ka was also involved in the collision, but the vehicle sustained only minor damage.

Mr Wright said heavy rain and gusting winds may have been one of the factors that caused the crash.

He added: "Dorset Police is investigating whether the weather conditions contributed towards this tragic collision."

The deceased couple were due to be identified after a post-mortem was held today and the West Dorset Coroner will open an inquest next week. PC Craig Redmond at the Dorchester Road Policing Unit has asked anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the vehicles being driven prior to the crash, to call him on 01305 222222.