A driver has died after his car left a road and hit a tree on Friday night.

Emergency services were called to a crash near Holt shortly before 10.40pm.

A white Volkswagen Golf had left the road and collided with a tree on an unnamed road running from Chalbury Common to Holt Forest.

The fire service attended to cut the injured driver free.

The driver, a 20-year-old local man, sustained serious life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital for treatment.

He passed away yesterday.

Police Sergeant Craig Tatton, of the traffic unit, said: “All of our thoughts are with this young man’s family and friends.

“Our investigation into the circumstances of this collision remain ongoing and I would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident, or was travelling in the area at the relevant time, to please contact Dorset Police.

“I would also ask any motorists who were driving along that road at the relevant time with dashcams fitted to please check their footage and contact me if they find anything that may be relevant to my investigation.”

The man's age was initially given by police as 21. However, this afternoon it was confirmed that he was 20.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email at scit@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 24:431.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.