TWO young soldiers were killed when they were struck by a car on the busy A303 dual carriageway between Amesbury and Andover late on Saturday night.

They were walking along the westbound carriageway of the trunk road, making their way back to their camp at Larkhill, when the accident occurred.

Another soldier walking with them was found at the scene of the crash suffering from shock, and an 18-year-old woman from Amesbury, who was driving the car, suffered serious head injuries.

The accident happened at Thruxton just before midnight, and the road was closed for several hours afterwards while police carried out an extensive investigation.

Hampshire police this week named the two dead soldiers as 18-year-old Aaran Benson from Fleetwood in Lancashire and 23-year-old Agusten Sterling from the Caribbean island of St Vincent.

Both men were in training at the Royal School of Artillery at Larkhill. It is understood they and the third soldier, also serving at the Royal School of Artillery but who has not been named, had been returning from a night out in Andover.

It is believed they had travelled part of the way back by taxi and were either walking the remainder of the journey, or possibly trying to hitch a lift.

The Amesbury woman, whose Suzuki vehicle was involved in the accident, was injured when she took action to avoid the men and the car collided with the central crash barrier.

She was rushed to the neurological unit at Southampton General Hospital, and was said earlier this week to be in a stable but critical condition.

A male passenger in the car suffered minor injuries. Neither he nor the young woman have been named. Police have appealed for witnesses to the accident, urging anyone who was driving along the A303 between Andover and Thruxton at the time to contact them as they may well be able to provide information that will assist with the investigation.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Roads Policing Unit at Weyhill police station on 0845 045 45 45, quoting the accident codename Operation Westminster when they ring.