A WOMAN is fighting for life after a horrific head-on smash in Corfe Mullen yesterday morning.

The two-car collision took place on Blandford Road, near to the Windgreen Esso Garage on Wareham Road around 7.50am.

The 55-year-old female driver of the blue Vauxhall Corsa was on her way to work at the Esso garage when the crash took place.

Police and firefighters removed the door of the car to release the woman.

She was taken to Poole General Hospital by land ambulance in a critical condition and then transferred to Southampton General Hospital.

She is currently in a stable but serious condition.

The 45-year-old male driver of the blue MG ZT, which had its roof removed, was also taken to Poole General Hospital with a head injury.

His vehicle is registered to a woman from Wimborne.

The female driver's Corsa ended up half embedded in a hedge facing against the direction it had been travelling.

Blandford Road and Wareham Road outside the fuel station were closed while emergency services dealt with the drivers of both cars.

The road re-opened just after 2.05pm.

Pupils arriving at nearby Lockyer's Middle School in the morning were greeted with the sight of the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance landing in one of their fields.

Sergeant Stuart Pitman from Dorset Police's traffic unit said the female driver was in critical condition and had been taken to Poole General Hospital by road ambulance.

He said: “This head-on collision took place on a particularly busy stretch of road at that time of the morning.

“The scene was secured by attending officers once the casualties had been taken care of.

“A full and open investigation will take place and I would like to thank the community for their patience and tolerance during this investigation.

“I would also like to thank residents for assisting the emergency services on scene.

“I have also deployed Safer Neighbourhood Officers in the area to provide increased reassurance.

“And I would also thank Lockyers Middle School for allowing the air ambulance to land in their field.”

An Esso spokesperson said: “We can confirm that one member of staff at Windgreen service station has been taken to hospital following a collision between two vehicles outside the entrance to the service station in Corfe Mullen.

“We are assisting the police in their investigation into the cause of the accident.

“Our thoughts are with our colleague and we wish her a speedy recovery.”

Residents said they were alerted to the crash by the sound of the air ambulance hovering above their houses looking for somewhere to land.

Jim Hindle, from Kinson, who was working at a nearby property said: “I saw one ambulance at first and then within minutes more started turning up.

“I've never seen so much mobilisation of resources it was just unreal.

“I was really impressed at the police response.

“This is such a busy junction in the mornings. There were teachers up here directing the children round.”

Witnesses to the collision or anyone with information should contact police on 101.