A HEAD-ON crash on the A338 near Fordingbridge yesterday resulted in five people being taken to hospital, two with "serious" injuries. 

The emergency services were called after two vehicles collided on Salisbury Road, between Fordingbridge and Downton, at 5.38pm.

Two fire engines from Ringwood and Fordinbridge attended, and 13 fire fighters and a senior officer were involved in helping to release the casualties.

The vehicles collided on a bend, and the road was closed for much of the evening for recovery work.

A spokesperson from Hampshire Police said: "Wiltshire Police helped with road closures.

"Two vehicles were involved - a Proton and a BMW. Four adults and one young person, aged 13, were taken to hospital, two suffering with serious injuries. We have no further information on who the injured parties were."

A spokesperson for Hampshire Fire and Rescue said: "One male and one female were extricated from one vehicle, and another male and female were extricated from the second.

"Another casualty was also extricated. They were all taken to hospital by ambulance."

A spokesperson for South Central Ambulance Service said five ambulance crews attended - three from the service and two from Great Western Ambulance Service - to treat the casualties.

A Hazardous Area Response Team from South Central Ambulance Service and an ambulance doctor also attended.

The spokesperson said: "Following treatment by paramedics, all patients were taken to Salisbury District Hospital."