UPDATE: Police announce two people killed and two seriously injured after two-car collision on A15 near Cranwell

According to a Lincolnshire Police spokesman the male driver of one vehicle and a female passenger from the other have both died in the incident which happened shortly after 10am this morning.

He said: “All the casualties are local but no further details are being released at this time. Close relatives have been informed but wider family are still in the process of being contacted.

“The Serious Collision Team are appealing for any witnesses who saw a green VW Golf travelling south along the A15 or a silver Astra travelling in the opposite direction prior to the collision.

Anyone with information should contact the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855, quoting incident 112 of March 28.

The section of the A15 between the Cranwell and Leasingham turn offs was due to reopen around now (5.50pm) after emergency services, including the air ambulance, spent most of the day at the scene of the collision. One car was seen by a passer-by to have ended up in a ditch .

Fire crews from Sleaford, Billinghay and Metheringham were in attendance and were said by a spokesman to have used Holmatro cutting equipment to release three of the casualties who were all transported to hospital.

With the road closed drivers were diverted through Cranwell village to the A17 although local traffic could reach Leasingham from Sleaford/Holdingham roundabout, but not from the Lincoln side.

Commenting on the news of the fatalities released by police on Twitter, Chris Cartwright ‏commented: “Tragic RIP”. Graham Grocock posted: “Sad news.”