A 78-YEAR-OLD woman has died after a crash in Ashley Heath.

Police were called to reports of a two-vehicle collision on Horton Road involving a white Volvo V60 and a blue Citroen C4 at about 3.35pm on Saturday (January 5).

The driver of the Volvo - a 78-year-old woman from Southampton - was taken to Southampton General Hospital for treatment, but she died later that evening.

The four occupants of the Citroen were taken to the hospital as a precaution but have since been discharged.

Police Sergeant Lee Savage, of Dorset Police's traffic unit, said: "My thoughts are with the woman's family at this difficult time.

"I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or the events leading up to it and have not yet spoken to officers to please come forward. I would also ask anyone with relevant dashcam footage to contact us."

Fire crews from Ringwood and Burley attended the crash and extinguished a fire involving one of the vehicles. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55190002439.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org