The collision happened at around 10.35am yesterday when a white Mercedes Sprinter panel van left the road and struck a tree.

A passenger in the vehicle, a man believed to be in his forties, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

The driver was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and another passenger taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

The main A49 road in the Church Stretton area remained closed for much of the day while the emergency services worked at the scene. Diversions were set up from the traffic lights at Church Stretton and from the All Stretton turning.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances and have appealed for witnesses.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: “The van was travelling south on the A49 when it lost control and left the road about a mile north of Church Stretton.

“It seems to have veered into the hedgeline of the opposite lane before hitting a large tree and coming to rest. No other vehicle is believed to be involved.

“We are anxious to trace anyone who witnessed the collision, or who may have spotted the van being driven towards Church Stretton shortly before it happened. They should contact Shrewsbury or Ludlow police stations on the 101 non-emergency number.”

The spokesperson added: “We particularly want to make contact with the driver of a lorry which we believe may have been immediately in front of the van. The van may have been following this lorry which had a blue panel on its back end and may have pulled out as if to overtake it just before losing control.

“The lorry driver may not even be aware of the collision.”

The coroner for south Shropshire, Mr Anthony Sibcy has been informed.