A 12-YEAR-OLD girl from Lydd, near Hythe, has been killed in a car accident.

The crash happened at 1pm on Sunday on the A2070 Hamstreet bypass, near Ashford. The girl was a passenger in a red Ford van driven by a 26-year-old man from St Mary's Bay.

They were travelling in the direction of the coast when they were in collision with a BMW travelling towards Ashford.

The girl was trapped and had to be cut free by firefighters. She suffered multiple injuries and was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford by air ambulance where she later died.

The driver of the van sustained serious injuries, which are not considered to be life-threatening. The driver of the BMW, a Hastings man, was also seriously injured. A woman passenger suffered back injuries and two children were treated for whiplash.

All were taken to hospital. The road was closed until 4.30pm while the a crash investigation unit inspected the scene.

Police are anxious to trace the driver of a blue/green Peugeot 406 that was driving towards Ashford shortly before the accident. They believe the driver may have witnessed it and would like to speak to him or her.

Anyone with any information can contact PC Steve Halliwell at Ashford police station on 01233 611055.