A MAN has suffered life-threatening injuries after a two-car smash in Somerford Road this morning.

Somerford Road was closed both ways for around seven hours after the crash, which took place at around 2.35am by the roundabout with the A35 and involved a yellow Fiat Punto and a blue Citroen Saxo.

Each vehicle had four people inside.

In total, five people were injured, with one - a 20-year-old from New Milton who was travelling in the front passenger seat of the Punto - sustaining life-threatening injuries.

He is being treated at Southampton General Hospital and his condition is stable, police say.

One man has been arrested.

Sergeant Rhiannon Stroud, of Dorset Police’s Road Policing Team, said: "I am appealing for any witnesses to the incident to contact police.

“Also, I would like to hear from anyone who saw the manner of driving of either vehicle leading up to the collision."

A spokesperson from the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service said two engines from Christchurch attended.

"Two vehicles were involved in the collision," she said.

"No one was trapped. Four casualties were treated by the ambulance service.

"Crews assisted the police in a search for one person who had made off before the arrival of the emergency services."

A 22-year-old man from New Milton was arrested on suspicion of driving offences and has been bailed until late October 2016.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dorset Police by visiting dorset.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting incident number 15:64.