POST mortems were due to be held yesterday (Thursday) following the deaths of four people in an horrific head-on crash on the A39 on the Williton side of Cannington on Tuesday afternoon.

The names of the 68-year-old man from Bridgwater and three people from the West Midlands - two women aged 59 and 73 and a 76-year-old man - will not be released until an inquest has been opened following the post mortems.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened at around 2.30pm and involved a Volkswagen Passat being driven by the Bridgwater man and a Vauxhall Astra which was heading from the Minehead direction.

Two of the people killed were pronounced dead at the scene, a third died later on Tuesday evening in hospital and police confirmed a fourth had died in hospital on Wednesday morning.

A fifth person remains in hospital with serious injuries and is believed to have been travelling in the Astra.

The road was closed for more than six hours as emergency crews battled to free people trapped in the wreckage and police investigated the scene of the crash.

Residents living nearby spoke of their horror and said they were shocked to hear so many people had died.

Cllr John Osman, leader of Somerset County Council, said his thoughts were with the families of those caught up in the crash.

"This is a dreadful tragedy and my heartfelt condolences go to the family and friends of all those involved.

"I would also like to pass on my thanks to those members of the emergency services who have worked so hard over the last 24 hours."

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Constabulary said the road had been extremely busy with holiday traffic.