A LANCASTER University student died instantly when his car smashed head-on into a lorry on Tuesday morning.

Robert Matthew White, 20, a BSc Hons in business studies (accounting) student at Grisedale College, of Cherry Hinton, Cambridge, is believed to have been on the wrong side of the road when his Ford Fiesta was in collision with the ERF tractor unit.

The accident happened on the A588 Ashton Road, close to Ashton Golf Centre at 4.25am. When ambulance crews from Lancaster and Morecambe arrived at the scene they found Mr White dead.

The lorry driver, who has not been named, was taken to hospital suffering from shock but was released later.

Ashton Road, unlit and winding in many places, was closed for around four hours following the accident.

Tuesday's crash is the latest in a long line of accidents on the road. In January a motorist had a lucky escape when his car went through a hedge and landed on its side, while two years ago a man had to be cut free from his vehicle after a three-car collision close to the scene of Tuesday's tragedy.

A Lancaster University spokesman said: "Robert was a hugely popular student who, though a new arrival in September, had already gained the affection and respect of those who knew him. Indeed, his flatmates and many other members of his community were already pressing him to stand for election to be the next President of his college.

"His loss is a cause of great sadness to us all."