A MOTORCYCLIST has died after a crash with a petrol tanker near Corfe Mullen on Saturday morning (Aug 23).

The collision involving a Yamaha motorbike ridden by a 43-year-old Wimborne man and a tanker driven by a 68-year-old Southampton man, occurred at around 11.30am on the A31, east of the Roundhouse roundabout.

The Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance attended and pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene.

Following the accident police closed off the road to traffic resulting in tailbacks stretching back for several miles to the Ferndown bypass adding to the already heavy bank holiday traffic.

Dorset Fire and Rescue attended the scene and made the area safe.

Two fire engines attended and also the heavy rescue appliance.

Investigating officer PC Paul Rogers, of the Dorset Traffic Department, said the incident caused the road to be closed off to traffic for around five hours.

He added: "We put diversions along the A350 to allow collision investigators and vehicle examiners to the scene.

"There was fairly minor damage to the vehicles. The driver of the tanker was shaken but not injured. It is not a particularly dangerous stretch of road."

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to contact the Dorset Police traffic department on 01202 222 222.