A PENSIONER is fighting for his life after a horrific head-on collision near Stag Gate on the A31 yesterday.

Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene of the smash, close to the World's End pub at around 10.45am.

The male driver of a silver Citroen three-wheel convertible suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital's neurological unit.

The air ambulance landed in a field belonging to South Dorset MP Richard Drax.

The pensioner's wife, who was also seriously injured, was taken by ambulance to Poole General Hospital.

Dorset Fire and Rescue were called to release the retired couple who were trapped in the Citroen, but it took around half an hour to safely remove the man, and a little longer for the woman, because of the severity of their injur-ies.

The other retired couple, who are in their 80s, were travelling in a Daihatsu Hijet motor home.

They were taken to Poole Hospital as well after the vehicle rolled during the collision.

Inspector Matt Butler of Dorset Police said: “The male driver of the three-wheeler, who is in his late 60s, was seriously injured and flown directly to the neurological unit at Southampton, where he is undergoing tests.

“The air ambulance landed in a field of rape nearby belonging to Mr Drax.

“The campervan was travelling east and the three-wheeler was travelling west.

“For a reason that has not yet been identified, the two vehicles met head-on in the westbound carriageway.

“Everybody in the two vehicles has sustained injuries.”

The silver Citroen is registered to a man from Somerset, while the campervan is registered to a man from Southampton.

Insp Butler said the roads had been closed at major junctions to allow drivers to find other routes.

“It may seem like a long stretch of road to be closed, but we planned it this way so vehicles aren't forced to use narrow country lanes, which may lead to more problems,” he said.

The road was closed for more than four hours while investigators examined the scene and it re-opened just before 3pm.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said there was also a dog travelling in the convertible which is believed to have escaped un-injured.

Anyone with information should call PC 247 Loveless of the western traffic division on 101.