A MAN has died following a crash between a car, a coach and a skip loader on the A31 this morning.

The road was closed both ways between the Bere Regis roundabout and the Roundhouse Roundabout following a crash at White Post - the junction with Bere Road.

A red Volkswagen Passat, a white single decker Volvo coach and a white Volvo skip loader were involved.

The driver of the car - a 55-year-old man from Southampton - was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

The driver of the coach, who did not have any passengers in his vehicle, received minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment. The driver of the skip loader was uninjured.

All three emergency services were called to the scene at around 10.30am.

The ambulance service sent three rapid response vehicles and one ambulance. An air ambulance was also called.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said the driver had been cut free from the car.

The road was closed for six hours, re-opening at around 4.30pm

Motorists were being urged to avoid the area. There was a diversion at the A350 to the Upton Bypass then the A35 to Bere Regis.

Sergeant Phil Lee, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: "I am appealing to anyone who was travelling along the A31 and witnessed this collision to please contact Dorset Police.

“I am also keen to hear from anyone who saw the manner of driving of either vehicle immediately before the collision or has a dash cam fitted in their vehicle that may hold vital evidence.

“I appreciate the road closures on this busy route would have caused inconvenience to motorists, and I would like to reassure them that they were absolutely necessary to allow the emergency services to carry out their work and to allow for a proper examination of the scene.”