TWO people died and 15 were injured following an accident on Tuesday involving eight vehicles - including a lorry and a minibus, on the A36 Salisbury to Southampton road at Wellow.

The crash happened at 3.20pm between Blackhill Road and Winwhistle Lane.

The two people who died - an elderly man and an 84-year-old woman, were travelling in the minibus, which was said to have come from a local hospital and was carrying 14 people.

The 15 injured were taken to hospitals in Southampton and to Salisbury District Hospital.

A Salisbury District Hospital spokesman said yesterday that two of the three people brought to Salisbury had been discharged and one had been kept in for observation.

Three of the injured were said by Hampshire Police to be in a critical condition.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been made public, pending relatives being told of the tragedy.

The A36 was closed for ten hours, while scenes of crime and collision investigation officers examined the scene and recovery of the vehicles was arranged.

A police spokesman said: "This was a very serious crash which we have to investigate thoroughly."

He added that police were anxious to speak to witnesses who had not yet come forward.

They are asked to call 0845 045 454 45.