Man killed as car hits tree

The man was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital

A man has died after his car smashed into a tree on a country road.

Fire crews raced to the scene of the crash on the A31 in Dorset to find the man, in his 30's, trapped inside his overturned and severely damaged BMW.

They cut him free using hydraulic equipment and he was rushed to Poole hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened at around 0200 GMT this morning near Winterborne Zelston.

The man, in his 30's, was heading from Bere Regis towards Wimborne when the accident happened.

A Dorset fire service spokeswoman said: "At 0146 GMT we received a call to a road traffic accident on the A31 near Winterborne Zelston.

"Upon arrival the crew from Hamworthy and Bere Regis found a car on its side with one casualty severely trapped.

"The male casualty was released using hydraulic rescue equipment."