THE TWO people who died following an ambulance crash in the New Forest on Friday, have now been formally named by police.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, Gillian Randall, 42, of Newlands Copse, Blackfield, was an ambulance technician with South Central Ambulance Service.

For reasons yet to be established by officers investigating, the ambulance she was driving left the A337 while travelling north towards Lyndhurst and collided with a tree at around 9.35am.

The vehicle was conveying a patient to hospital at the time of the collision. He was Francis Ironside, 88, of Harts Way, Lymington.

Both Mr Ironside, known to his family and friends as Jim, and Gillian Randall were pronounced dead at the scene.

A 32-year-old male paramedic, and a 64-year-old male relative of Mr Ironside, both travelling in the back of the ambulance, suffered serious injuries and both remain in a serious condition in hospital.

A 25-year-old man driving a blue Seat Alhambra, which was involved in the collision, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention and bailed until July 29.

Roads policing officers are continuing their appeal for information and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or saw either vehicle in the Lymington or Brockenhurst areas prior to it.

Yesterday, scores of amubulance service staff attended the scene of the crash to pay tribute to their colleague.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Road Death Investigation team at Eastleigh police station, quoting Operation Feldberg, on 101.