FIVE people died last night in a five-vehicle road crash.

Three other people were very seriously injured, according to a Cornwall force spokesman.

Four cars and what was thought to be a goods vehicle were involved in the accident just after 6.30pm.

It was thought to have happened on a B-road off the A39 between St Columb and Castle-an-Dinas, a hill fort.

Police, fire, and ambulance crews were at the scene, near Newquay, and the road was expected to be closed all night.

None of the victims was named by police.

Westcountry Ambulance Services Trust press officer Darren Gibson said: ``This is one of the worst road accidents we have had in the region for some time.''

Ten ambulance paramedics were on the scene from Newquay, Wadebridge, Penzance, and Bodmin.

A police helicopter located one of the dead in a field near the accident scene, using a thermal imaging camera.

Two men, one aged 35 and another in his 30s, suffered serious head injuries. One had a fractured skull.

They were airlifted by an RAF Sea King search and rescue helicopter, with an ambulance medical team on board, to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Mr Gibson said two more male casualities suffered head injuries but they were not life-threatening.

The lorry driver was not injured but later collapsed with shock.

Cornwall fire service sent three appliances to the scene and cut two people from the wreckage.

The four cars involved in the crash - a Ford Orion, a Volvo, a Sierra, and a Ford Capri - were all local vehicles, police said.

They set up a casualty bureau for next of kin to telephone on 01392 451009.

Meanwhile, two men died and two other people were injured in a Borders road accident on the A7 Galashiels to Selkirk Road, yesterday.

Police named the dead men as Mr Charles Clamp, 25, of Crumhaugh Road, and Mr Christopher Muir, 24, of High Street, both Hawick.

The two people injured were taken to Borders General Hospital. Mr Paul Currie, 21, of Beattie Court, Hawick, received pelvic injuries and was ``stable''. Ms Jennifer Bird, of Falside, Camptown, Jedburgh, had arm and leg injuries and was ``serious, but stable''.

The accident, near Glenmayne House, happened when the Austin Maestro the four were travelling in left the road and plunged down an embankment before bursting into flames.

Ms Bird, who was in the rear passenger seat, was thrown from the vehicle. Mr Currie, who was sitting next to her, was rescued by a passer-by and police officers.