A MOTORIST was arrested after an accident that has left a 70-year-old Southampton man fighting for his life.

The casualty is understood to have suffered a fractured spine in the collision, which occurred on the B3054 Lymington to Beaulieu road last night.

His 69-year-old wife, a front seat passenger, received serious chest injuries.

The accident happened when their Peugeot 106 was in collision with a Suzuki Vitara jeep at a set of crossroads between Pilley and Norleywood.

The driver of the Suzuki, a 20-year-old Boldre man, was arrested on suspicion of assault following an allegation about his driving. He was later released pending further inquiries.

Police say the injuries received by the driver of the Peugeot are potentially fatal.

The pensioner, who comes from Bitterne, was taken to Southampton General Hospital in an ambulance with a police escort.

Part of the B3054 was closed for six hours while police investigated the accident and arranged for debris to be removed from the road.

Anyone who saw the collision or witnessed the Suzuki being driven before the crash should ring the Roads Policing Unit at Totton police station on 0845 045 4545.