A PENSIONER has died after he was thrown from his car in a head-on collision with another vehicle.

The smash happened close to the junction of New Zealand Lane and Broadway, in Duffield, at about 4.30pm yesterday.

Paramedics, police and two fire engines were called to the scene and the driver, aged 84, was taken to Royal Derby Hospital.

A spokesman for Derbyshire police said the pensioner has since died of his injuries.

The crash involved a Honda Jazz and a Volkswagen Passat.

Stretches of both roads remained closed for more than four hours last night while collision investigation officers investigated the scene.

Adil Saddique, who works at nearby Okra Indian restaurant, in New Zealand Lane, said he arrived at work shortly after the collision had happened.

He said: "We were driving to work about 10 minutes after the crash and we had to be diverted along a few different roads because the police had closed them.

"The traffic was quite bad in the area for a few hours because it was obviously quite a serious incident."

A spokesman for Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service said crews from Kingsway and Belper stations attended the scene and made both vehicles safe.

Firefighters also used special kits to clear oil from the road surface, before leaving at about 5.20pm.

Witnesses to the collision should call police on 0345 123 3333.