Two men have died and a woman was injured when their cars collided and caught fire on a road near Kidderminster.

The men, aged in their 20s, were declared dead at the scene following the horror accident on the A449 Worcester to Kidderminster road at Low Hill, Hartlebury, last night.

Neither have yet been formally identified by police, and post mortem examinations expected to take place within two days.

A woman, thought to be in her 60s, was taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital and was in stable condition today.

Police, ambulance and fire crews arrived at the scene close to the De Beers garden centre, to find the vehicles had suffered severe impact damage and were on fire.

The men were in a blue Citroen Saxo VTR travelling towards Kidderminster when the collision with the silver Audi A4, in which the woman was travelling, took place at 9.30pm.

The Audi was travelling in the opposite direction towards Worcester.

Police sealed off the road to traffic as accident investigations began.

The road remained closed during this morning’s peak hour, and re-opened to traffic at around 10am.

Police are now appealing for witnesses.

Sgt Mark Ransome-Williams, of West Mercia Police said: “We would like to hear from anyone who witnessed this collision or either of these vehicles in the moments leading up to it.

People with information are being asked to call police on 0300 333 3000, quoting 333-n-170209, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

* Police have named the man who died when he was struck by a lorry in Kidderminster on Monday as Phillip George Pegler. Mr Pegler, 54, from the Foley Park area of Kidderminster, was pronounced dead at the scene in Stourport Road.