Five people were seriously injured after a crash which closed the A350 Poole Road for several hours.

The crash, between a blue Vauxhall Insignia and a blue Vauxhall Tigra, happened at 11.45pm just south of the Lytchett Matravers junction.

The driver of the Tigra, a 29-year-old woman from Blandford, sustained serious injuries and was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Insignia, a 23-year-old man, and three passengers, two women aged 26 and a man, 28, were taken to Poole Hospital for treatment.  

Two of the injured were released from the cars by fire crews. 

The road was closed between the A31 Roundhouse Roundabout, at Sturminster Marshall and the Old Wareham Road at Corfe Mullen until just before 8am.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 17:471 Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.