A FORMER Leominster magistrate airlifted to hospital following a crash in his motability scooter has died.

John Humphries, known as Keith, suffered multiple head, chest and leg injuries when his invalid carriage was involved in a collision with a Land Rover Discovery at the weekend.

The smash happened at Stockton Cross on the A49 Leominster to Ludlow road at 1.30pm on Sunday.

The stretch was closed for more than three hours while emergency crews fought to clear the wreckage.

Mr Humphries was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, but died from his injuries.

The father-of-two and grandfather of three was driving a blue Stirling EX4 battery-driven invalid carriage, which was in collision with the blue 4x4 vehicle, towing a trailer with a boat.

"He was thrown from his vehicle and suffered injuries to his head and chest and multiple injuries to his legs," said a spokesman for the County Air Ambulance.

His death has shocked helpers at Leominster Shopmobility, which loans out power scooters.

Co-ordinator Ron Hughson said he and the project's volunteers were "very sad".

"Keith was well-known around the town," he said. "He had his own scooter, but was always a great supporter of Shopmobility and often called by with a cheery word."

Herefordshire Magistrates' former chairman Commander Carl Davis JP served with Mr Humphries on the Leominster Bench in the 1980s.

"He was a very kind, helpful and gentle man," Cmdr Davis said.

At Brimfield, where his late wife Molly ran the village shop, the 82-year-old was remembered as a community-minded man who ran bingo sessions and supported local functions.

Anyone with information, or who witnessed the collision, is asked to contact PC Martin Broomfield at Hereford police on 01432 276422.