A MAN has died after a crash between a Winchester-based fire engine and a car on a Hampshire road.

The fatal crash happened late last night in the New Forest and involved a Ford Puma car.

Hampshire Police shut a section of the A337 road near to Hollands Wood Campsite between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst.

The crash happened at 10.56pm and the driver of the car died at the scene.

One firefighter was taken to Southampton General Hospital with minor injuries.

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said: "Hampshire Constabulary and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service are working together to establish the circumstances."

A spokesman for Hampshire Fire & Rescue confirmed the fire engine was not operating under emergency conditions and had been returning from a call out.

They had been called to a gas leak at a Co-op petrol station in Wellworthy Road, Lymington, where they and other crews evacuated the area and isolated the leak.

The crew, who were called out from Winchester, were returning to the Easton Lane base when they were involved in the crash.

The vehicle was a fire engine carrying specialist equipment for dealing with hazardous materials.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting Operation Mulberry.