A VAN driver died in hospital after his vehicle crashed through the perimeter fence at Bournemouth Airport on Monday morning.

The Mercedes Sprinter, operated by a Ferndown company and driven by a 62-year-old man from Wimborne, left the road in Parley Lane at around 5.30am, approximately 150 yards from the main entrance to the airport.

Airport firefighters and emergency crews were first on the scene and gave first aid to the badly injured driver, who was taken to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

No other vehicle was thought to have been involved in the accident, which occurred approximately 150 yards from the airport main entrance and caused widespread traffic chaos for several hours.

In an effort to keep traffic moving, police kept Parley Lane partially open but drivers warned by television and radio reports to avoid the area clogged alternative routes.

Heavy rain, the Monday market day closure of the High Street and ongoing roadworks in Barrack Road added to the congestion in Christchurch, with long tailbacks in all directions.

At the peak period, tailbacks on the A35 Christchurch bypass stretched from the town centre to the Somerford roundabout, creating log jams on all approach roads to the Stony Lane and Fountain roundabouts.

Drivers also suffered long delays on the B3073 Bargates and Fairmile Road, with traffic backed up all the way from Hurn.

Despite the surrounding traffic chaos, Bournemouth Airport reported no problems with passengers arriving late or missing their planes and flight schedules were not disrupted by operations to remove the wreckage of the van and repair the damaged fence.

Anyone who saw the accident or the van in the moments before the accident are asked to contact PC Paul Bishop at Ferndown Road Policing Unit on 01202 222222.