THE 19-year-old man seriously injured Monday afternoon in a head-on collision near Kingston Lacy has been described as "critical" in Dorset County Hospital.

The young man from Corfe Mullen was airlifted to the Dorchester hospital where his relatives have been keeping a vigil at his bedside.

His silver Vauxhall Corsa had been heading towards Blandford along the Badbury Rings B3082 when it was in collision with a BMW and a 32-tonne heavy goods DAF vehicle.

A woman from Corfe Mullen and her nine-year-old son travelling in the BMW towards Blandford and the driver of the lorry heading in the direction of Wimborne were treated at the scene for shock.

The National Trust property Kingston Lacy was temporarily closed following the collision and road diversions put in place.

The lorry driver initially alerted emergency services to the crash using his mobile phone, say police.