A woman has died and another is seriously injured after a hit-and-run in Ayrshire.

Joan Price died after her red Nissan Pulsar car was struck by a black Volkswagen Golf on the A77 near the Holmston Roundabout in Ayr on Monday night.

The 59-year-old from Troon was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which took place at 9.35pm.

Her 39-year-old passenger was seriously injured and was taken to Ayr Hospital, where she remains in a stable condition.

The driver of the Golf and his male passenger fled the scene before the police arrived.

It is believed they got into a silver Audi A3 that was also on the A77 at the time of the crash.

Sergeant Kevin Blackley, of the divisional road policing unit at Irvine, issued an urgent appeal for witnesses.

He said: "From witnesses, the two men in the VW Golf got out of the car and jumped into a silver Audi A3 that had been in the vicinity at the time of crash.

"The VW Golf was un-driveable and recovered at the scene. Due to the extent of the damage to the car, it is possible that either one or both of the occupants could have been injured by the impact of the crash.

"A number of people came to the aid of the two women in the car and called the emergency services, however, we still would like to hear to anyone who was on the A77 around the time of the crash and who saw it happen."

He said he was keen to speak to anyone who may have seen any of the three cars before the crash.

Mr Blackley said he wanted witnesses to provide information about the way they were being driven at the time.

He added: "Anyone with information that may assist our investigation should contact the Divisional Road Policing Unit at Irvine through the 101 number or anonymously through Crimestoppers."

The A77 between Holmston and Whitletts roundabouts was closed for several hours to allow officers to carry out their investigation. It has since reopened.