A WOMAN has been taken to hospital in a serious condition following a two-car crash in rural Dorset this morning.

The air ambulance was called to the crash on the A354 near Woodyates, between Blandford and Salisbury.

Two fire crews from Cranborne and Verwood rushed to the scene after they were called at 6.53am.

The woman was medically trapped, and firefighters had cut the roof from the vehicle to free her before she was taken by land ambulance to hospital in Southampton for treatment.

Police said one man was treated by the ambulance service at the scene.

Firefighters worked alongside police and ambulance crews and an off-duty firefighter, fire control operator and nursing assistant who were all on their way to work stopped to assist.

Verwood Fire Station said: “Great assistance from an off-duty firefighter on his way to work and a fire control operator also going to work in giving initial casualty care and getting information to on coming appliances.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "At 6.45am on Friday 19 June 2020 Dorset Police received a report of a collision involving two vehicles along the A354 near Blandford. The ambulance and fire services were also called.

"A road closure has been put in place to enable emergency service to safely deal with the incident."

An eyewitness said a nursing assistant who was on her way to work at Salisbury Hospital also stopped at the scene to assist in performing first aid.

Fire crews left the scene by 8.30am and the road was reopened at around 11am.