INVESTIGATIONS are continuing today after a car careered off a busy Hampshire road and crashed into a tree before bursting into flames, killing the driver.

The motorist had been driving along the A337 in the New Forest in the early hours of yesterday morning when the white Volvo saloon came off the road and was engulfed by flames.

Another driver spotted the blaze and called for help but the driver died before emergency services arrived.

A police investigation is now under way and officers are working to identify the motorist and find out what happened in the moments before the crash.

They are appealing for other drivers who may have spotted the Volvo before the crash to come forward.

The crash, which closed the road for more than 12 hours, caused major traffic jams around the New Forest Rush-hour drivers battled heavy traffic yesterday between Lymington and New Milton and surrounding villages.

Police were on the scene between the B3058 Lymington Road, Everton, and Haglane Copse, Lymington, until 4pm, when the road was reopened.

Totton roads Policing Unit is asking for anyone with any information to contact them on 101, quoting Operation Ascella.

They would particularly like to hear from anyone who may have seen the white Volvo on the road at the time of the incident or anyone who witnessed the collision.