A MAN has died following a road accident near Winchester this morning.

He was a 27-year-old man from Eastleigh who was driving a red Skoda Octavia.

The badly damaged car was found in the front garden of a house around half a mile east of the Percy Hobbs pub, on the A31 Alresford Road.

Police believe the driver was heading towards Alton, about half a mile east of the Percy Hobbs roundabout, when he lost control of the vehicle in a dip in the road. The car left the road to its nearside, entered a private garden and collided with a tree.

The residents discovered the vehicle, and emergency services were called just before 9am.

Police said the motorist was still alive after the crash, and was rushed to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.

However, they were unable to save him and despite their efforts he was pronounced dead this morning.

Police said no other vehicles were involved in the accident, and they are trying to establish the cause of the crash.

The A31 was closed eastbound at the Percy Hobbs pub while the red Skoda Octavia was removed from the scene.

Roads Policing Unit Sergeant Paul Diamond said: “We need to hear from anyone who saw the Skoda before it crashed or who saw the driver lose control. We also would like to hear from anyone who encountered driving difficulties in that area on Thursday morning.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Operation Middle at Cosham Roads Policing Unit on 0845 045 45 45 or the anonymous Crimestoppers charity line on 0800 555 111.