A MOTORIST died following a collision on the A21 near Lamberhurst early this morning.

A saloon car, a Ford transit van and a panel van were in collision half a mile south of the Bewl Water turn-off shortly after 5am.

The driver of the car was killed and the drivers of the two vans were treated by ambulance crews at the scene. Fire crews from Hawkhurst and Tunbridge Wells were also called out to the incident.

During the crash a telegraph pole fell across the road and, as live wires were still attached, all traffic travelling along that stretch of road were diverted.

Cars travelling from Flimwell were diverted through Hawkhurst and Goudhurst and articulated lorries were diverted through Wadhurst.