A PENSIONER is fighting for her life after she was involved in a head-on crash on the A32 Wickham Road near Fareham.

The 76-year-old Fareham woman was trapped in her car for more than half an hour before she was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

She suffered multiple broken bones and internal injuries. Her condition was this morning described as "critical but stable."

The accident happened south of the Dean Farm roundabout shortly before 1pm yesterday.

The woman was travelling south in a red Austin Mini when she was in collision with a green Daewoo Matiz travelling north.

The Daewoo driver, a Portsmouth woman in her 30s, had to be cut free from her car after also being trapped for more than half an hour.

She suffered a broken leg and hip and was taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital.

PC Susan Heath is appealing for any witnesses to the accident to come forward.

"We especially want to hear from anyone who noticed either the red Austin Mini or the green Daewoo Matiz travelling along the A32 just before the accident," she said.

"Any information about the collision will be helpful to us. We have got a number of eye-witnesses who were at the scene when the accident happened and we are speaking to them.

"But if there is anyone else who can help we would urge them to contact us."

The section of the A32 between the junction ten slip road of the M27 and the entrance to Knowle Village was closed throughout the afternoon before reopening at 4.45pm.

TRIBUTES TO TRAGIC POSTMAN

POSTAL workers held a minute's silence and bosses paid tribute to a postman killed when his bicycle was in collision with a lorry at the end of his morning round.

Kevin Price was on his way back to Gosport's Royal Mail depot when the accident happened in Brockhurst Road.

Royal Mail spokesman Don Veale said: "Staff at Gosport are shocked and saddened by the tragic death of their colleague. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time."

The lorry and postman were both travelling towards the town centre when the accident happened at 9.50am on Monday.

The driver of the lorry, a 53-year-old Kent man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and for failing to stop at the scene.

He has been released on police bail to return to Fareham police station on July 1.

Workers plan to stop work to hold another minute's silence as a tribute to Mr Price on the day of his funeral.