A TEENAGE girl has died after being involved in a traffic collision in Ringwood.

The 16-year-old, from the Ringwood area, was pronounced dead at the scene following the accident on the A31.

Following the fatal crash, the A31 and M27 westbound were closed between Ashley Heath and junction two of the motorway, causing huge disruption for motorists in the area.

All lanes of the A31 have now reopened after police completed their investigations at the crash scene.

Four South Western Ambulance Service vehicles were called to the scene of the accident at 8.18pm last night, with the police notified minutes later.

The victim, who was riding a red scooter, was involved in a collision between the Verwood onslip and the A338 offslip.

She was pronounced dead at the scene, and the road between Ashley Heath and junction two of the M27 was closed off as an investigating team carried out work at the scene.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “The coroner has been notified and next of kin have been made aware. “Family liaison officers are currently working with the relatives of the deceased.“We would like to apologise to the public for the inconvenience caused but this is an extremely serious and complex road traffic collision.”

While much of the road closure remains in place, one lane of the A31 has been reopened, while police are using a rolling roadblock to direct traffic through the New Forest.

Police have urged anyone with information about the incident to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 393/24The accident came only a day after the Echo reported on Saturday that Ringwood Town Council is pressing the Highways Agency to reduce the speed limit on the road.

The council wants the limit lowered from 70mph to 50mph, but highway chiefs have said not enough motorists have been injured on the road to justify the reduction.

Councillors are calling on Government transport ministers to visit the town to see the road for themselves.