TWO men were airlifted to hospital after becoming trapped in separate cars after a serious crash near Bere Regis.

The head-on collision which involved two cars, one towing a caravan, happened on the A31 at Almer near the World’s End pub just before 4pm yesterday.

There was serious congestion after the A31 was shut between Bere Regis and Sturminster Marshall.

A man aged in his 70s became trapped in a saloon car, which he was travelling in with an elderly woman.

A younger man was trapped in the wreckage of a second saloon car.

South Western Ambulance Service crews attended and the trapped casualties were cut free by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and taken to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance transported the elderly casualty. His female companion was badly shaken but uninjured.

Police said the force helicopter airlifted the other man with an accompanying paramedic.

Both the injured men had suspected broken legs.

Road closures and diversions were put in place and motorists were urged to avoid the A31 road between Bere Regis and Wimborne.

A Dorset Police spokesman said a man first reported that three vehicles had collided at 3.50pm.

When police attended they found it involved two cars and one caravan.

The spokesman said: “A woman called at 3.52pm and said it was two cars and a jack-knifed caravan following a head-on collision.”