Two people have died and four others are fighting for their life in hospital after a road crash.

The head-on collision happened at about 10.16pm yesterday on the A37 at Grimstone near Dorchester, in Dorset.

A section of the road was closed while forensics officers searched the scene following the crash between a blue Volkswagen Transporter van, being driven by a man from Poole, and a black Volkswagen Golf, driven by a man from Devon.

Two people, a 25-year-old woman from Bridport and a 45-year-old man from Poole, both in Dorset, have died. Their next of kin have been informed and the coroner notified, Dorset Police said.

Four other people were injured in the crash.

The passenger of the Volkswagen Transporter, a 37-year-old woman from Poole, is described as being in a life-threatening condition.

The driver of the Volkswagen Golf, a 28-year-old man from Devon, and two other passengers, a 28-year-old man from the Exeter area of Devon and a 26-year-old woman from the Bridport area, have sustained serious life-changing injuries, police said

All four are receiving treatment at hospitals in Yeovil and Dorchester.

Sergeant Joe Pardey said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision or saw the manner of driving of either vehicle prior to the incident to please call me urgently on 101. All calls will be treated in strict confidence.

"The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident allowing officers to establish what happened. I would like to thank motorists for their patience."