A MAN has died after a crash in East Dorset in the early hours of Saturday morning.

At 2.11am yesterday a black Ford Ranger was involved in a crash with a white Ford Transit van in Ringwood Road near Three Legged Cross.

The driver of the Ford Transit van - a 49-year-old man from the Shepton Mallet area - died from his injuries.

His next of kin have been informed and the coroner has been notified.

A 26-year-old male passenger in the Transit van suffered neck and spinal injuries and was taken to Poole Hospital.

The injuries are not considered life-threatening.

A road closure has been put in place in Horton road, outside the entrance to the Woolsbridge industrial estate.

Traffic has been diverted via Woolsbridge Road and Three Legged cross to allow emergency services to deal with the incident.

There is access to Moors Valley Country Park from the A31 direction and to Woolsbridge industrial estate and Ashley Heath car boot event from the West Moors end.

A 28-year-old man and 21-year-old woman, both from Shaftesbury, have been arrested on suspicion of driving offences and are currently assisting officers with enquiries.

Sergeant Nikki Burt of Dorset Police Traffic Department said: “I am appealing for witnesses to the collision and to the manner of driving of the vehicles leading up to the collision to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 8:53.

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.