A PENSIONER who suffered serious injuries in a three-vehicle collision on the outskirts of Williton has died.

The 71-year-old man from Burnham-on-Sea was airlifted to Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, after the accident on July 14 but died last Thursday.

The A39 was closed for more than eight hours following the collision between the victim's Vauxhall Merivia, a skip lorry and a Ford Transit van near the landfill site at Rydon Lane.

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said the Vauxhall was travelling towards West Quantoxhead when it was reported to have crossed the double white line in the centre of the road.

It was in collision with the lorry which was travelling in the opposite direction and which tried to take evasive action, causing it to drive into the roadside verge where it collided with an overhanging branch.

The branch then hit the van, which was also travelling away from West Quantoxhead.

Fire crews from Williton, Nether Stowey, Burnham-on-Sea and Glastonbury were called to the incident and worked to free the Vauxhall driver from the wreckage, whom they described as "severely trapped".

Officers from the police's collision investigation unit have launched an appeal for witnesses to the accident, which happened at about 9am.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the unit on 101.