TWO people have been killed and one has been seriously injured after a collision on a key Gloucestershire road.

The incident occurred at around 11.38pm last night close to Nettleton Bottom and it is believed two vehicles were involved, one of which has been overturned.

Fire and police crews received multiple reports of a car on fire.

As a result of the crash, the A417 had been closed both ways from Crickley Hill and beyond Birdlip towards Elkstone.

A fire service spokesman said that there have been two fatalities and a man was seriously injured and taken to hospital.

It sent four appliances to the scene from Cheltenham East and West and Gloucester North fire stations.

Gloucestershire police are on the scene of the crash carrying out a full investigation and the stretch of road between Gloucester and Cirencester is due to reopen later this morning.

A spokesman confirmed that two people had been killed and a man had been seriously injured and taken to Southmead Hospital.

At 7.50am police announced that the A417 would be reopened from the Air Balloon roundabout.

A rolling road block will be in place to Burford Road to ensure the traffic runs smoothly.

The A417 was reopened southbound between the A436 and A429 at 7.54am.

At 8.15am the northbound side of the A417 between Cirencester and Birdlip was also reopened.

If you have further information contact police by calling 101 or via email at 101@gloucestershire.police.uk quoting incident number 519 of Thursday, November 2.