A MAN was taken to hospital in a critical condition after a two-vehicle crash on the A35 in Christchurch yesterday.

The Barton-on-Sea man, believed to be in his 60s, was driving a grey Citroen C4 which was involved in a collision with a silver Honda Accord, driven by a woman from New Milton, at around 12.55pm near the Sainsbury's roundabout in Lyndhurst Road.

The crash, which was originally believed to involve a third vehicle, was at the bottom of Roeshot Hill in Somerford, and resulted in long delays.

An eyewitness at the scene said paramedics performed CPR on the victim, who was then taken by ambulance to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Chris Martin said: “I was just heading into Sainsbury's to do some shopping when I saw the two cars which had smashed into the railings right in front of Stewarts Garden Centre, about 20 yards apart.

“There were two paramedics taking it in turns to give CPR to a guy on the ground, I couldn't see much but I think he was with a lady passenger who seemed to be in shock.

“Then they took him away by ambulance and the police closed the road.

“It was odd because it didn't look like it had been that bad a crash.”

The road was closed both ways for nearly three hours while traffic police investigated the causes of the crash, causing long queues on the eastbound Christchurch bypass.

Three police cars and an ambulance attended but Dorset Fire and Rescue was not required.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “Any witnesses to the collision or the manner of driving of the Citroen or Honda before the incident should contact PC Tim Brehmer of Dorset Police with information on 101, quoting incident number 23:240.”