A WOMAN is continuing to fight for her life after a crash involving a tractor on a rural Dorset road at the weekend.

The casualty was flown to hospital by air ambulance after the crash, which took place at 8.40am on Saturday in Furzebrook Road, Wareham.

It is believed the woman, who lives in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was pinned into the wreckage of the car by a bale spike fitted to the front of the tractor.

Fire crews based at stations in Poole and Wareham were called to the scene to cut her free. A spokesperson from the fire service said she was “severely trapped”. The rescue took more than an hour.

The tractor driver, a 33-year-old local man, was badly shaken but otherwise uninjured in the crash.

The chair of the Church Knowle Parish Council has now called for road safety measures to be taken. Councillor Colin Page said he fears the stretch - often used by visitors to the Blue Pool - could well become the scene of a “massacre” in the future.

“In 2008, Dorset County Council agreed to install signs marking a 50 mile per hour limit on that road,” he said.

“They said at that time it needed to be 50mph before it could later down to 40mph.

“That was a decade ago and nothing has happened to change the limit since.”

The road is often used by teenagers completing Duke of Edinburgh walks, as well as large groups of cyclists, he said.

In addition, farm traffic and heavy goods vehicles also frequently use Purbeck roads.

Many of those who visit the Blue Pool or other areas of Purbeck are likely not to know the roads well, Cllr Page added.

“You get large groups of youngsters walking along, often a dozen at a time,” he said.

“Big parties of cyclists also use the roads.

“I am very concerned that one of these days, there’s going to be a massacre when a vehicle comes around a bend not realising there’s a group of people in the road.”

Furzebrook Road was closed throughout the morning to allow extensive investigations to take place.

Police have urged anyone who saw the crash itself, or those who witnessed the manner of driving of either of the vehicles prior to the crash, to come forward.

To contact police, visit dorset.police.uk or call 101.