AN 80 year-old man was killed following a three-car collision on the A3 at Hindhead on Sunday afternoon.

Michael Stern, from Petersfield, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Five other people were injured, one of them seriously, and were treated at the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

The incident occurred at 4-25pm on the A3 at the junction with Boundless Road north of the DevilÕs Punch Bowl bend.

Mr Stern was driving a red Fiat Punto southbound when it was involved in a head-on collision with two vehicles, a white Vauxhall Corsa van and a blue Peugeot 406.

Two people in the Peugeot and three in the van were taken to the Royal Surrey for treatment.

A man in the Peugeot had to be cut free using special equipment brought in by a rapid intervention vehicle from Chertsey Fire and Rescue Service. He was also taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital.

Two Haslemere appliances also attended, with another from Godalming, while a police helicopter surveyed the scene.

Haslemere Fire Station sub-officer Larry Bennett told The Herald: ÒAll crews worked in very difficult and hot conditions. It was a busy job, very difficult for everyone.Ó

It took firefighters an hour to remove the injured man, taking the roof of the car off in the process.

ÒThe ambulance service had to make sure he was stable first, but we all worked very well together,Ó sub-officer Bennett added.

From 4-30pm the A3 was closed for five hours in both directions, causing huge traffic jams already exacerbated by traffic brought out by SundayÕs soaring temperatures.

Hundreds of drivers returning home from days out were stuck in tailbacks for several hours.

One driver said it took 80 minutes to get through Haslemere en route to Guildford. ÒThe traffic was at a standstill. We eventually got to Brook, where we rejoined the A3, which had been reopened while we were in the jam.Ó

The cause of the crash has yet to be established.

Police are appealing for witnesses. They should contact PC Chris Annetts at the Collision Investigation Unit on 01932 569 922.