A DRIVER who was airlifted to hospital after the car he was driving was involved in a crash with an HGV has been able to return home.

Dorset Police closed the road through Wimborne in both directions between Stag Gate and the Roundhouse Roundabout following the smash on Monday morning at around 6.30am. It involved a silver Ford Focus registered to a Weymouth man and a lorry registered to a Wiltshire firm.

Initially, the Ford Focus driver was thought to be in a life-threatening condition and after being cut free from the vehicle, he was flown to Southampton General Hospital by air ambulance.

However, a police spokesperson was able to confirm yesterday that his injuries were not as serious as they first thought and he was able to leave hospital care later the same day.

They added: "As soon as officers at the scene were informed the injuries were not as serious as first thought, they arranged for the road to be cleared and the vehicles to be recovered. The heavy goods vehicle required specialist equipment."

The spokesperson thanked motorists for their patience during the road closure, which they said was necessary to allow the emergency services to deal with the incident and ensure that the driver received the appropriate medical care.