A man has died and two women have been injured in a crash after a police pursuit near Stratford-upon-Avon.

Officers tried to stop a black Audi on Birmingham Road shortly before 17:30 BST on Monday but the driver failed to pull over, Warwickshire Police said.

A pursuit began and 15 minutes later the Audi crashed into a white Ford Puma, the force added, with the Audi's 19-year-old male driver confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics.

The driver of the Ford, a woman, was seriously injured and remains in hospital in critical condition, while injuries to a second woman - her passenger - were serious but not believed to be life-threatening. An investigation by the police watchdog is under way.

Officers said after failing to stop, the Audi made off in the direction of the A46 before travelling back towards Stratford on the A439 Warwick Road where the crash occurred.

A number of other cars were damaged during the pursuit, police said.

Warwick Road was closed on Monday from the Marraway roundabout to its junction with Ingon Lane and Sand Barn Lane, with the stretch remaining shut on Tuesday morning.

It later reopened.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said paramedics found four patients in total at the scene.

They included a man who was in a critical condition to whom crews gave advanced life support.

"Despite their best efforts, it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased by ambulance staff at the scene," the spokesperson said.

A woman who was driving the second car suffered life-threatening injuries, the ambulance service confirmed, and was taken to hospital in a critical condition. She was said by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to be in her 70s.

A female passenger in the vehicle was also seriously hurt and taken to hospital, although her condition was not thought by the ambulance service to be life-threatening.

Injuries to another patient from the car were not believed to be serious.

Supt Steve Flavell said: "Our thoughts are with the families of everyone involved in this collision... at this extremely difficult time.

"We made a mandatory referral to the IOPC because a death had occurred following police contact.

"They have declared an independent investigation and we will co-operate fully with their investigation."

The IOPC said the investigation was at an early stage and confirmed its officials attended the police's post-incident operation to gather information.

"We understand the driver of a black Audi A3 failed to stop for police and was then pursued for around six minutes before the vehicle was involved in a collision with a car being driven by a member of the public," a spokesperson said.

"We are also appealing for any car footage of the pursuit that other motorists may have recorded. Our investigators can be contacted at 0300 303 5609 or by email: [email protected]

"We have met with the families of the driver and the seriously injured woman to explain our role and will keep them regularly updated throughout our investigation, which is at an early stage."

Manuela Perteghella, Liberal Democrat MP for Stratford-on-Avon, said the incdent was "incredibly tragic".

"My thoughts are with the families of all those impacted. We must now let the investigation take its course."

Works were carried out on Warwick Road two years ago, aimed at reducing the number of crashes in the area.

Warwickshire County Council added a one-way system, lowered the speed limit and implemented a protected turning lane at the Ingon Lane junction.

Street lighting was also boosted to improve visibility for crossing pedestrians at Fisherman's Car Park.