Drivers hurt in two-car Shropshire collision

Two people have been injured, one seriously, in a crash on the A49 in south Shropshire today. A man in his 30s suffered serious injuries in the accident.

It happened at Marshbrook, between Church Stretton and Craven Arms.

The man was airlifted to hospital by the Midlands Air Ambulance.

A woman, also in her 30s, suffered minor injuries and was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by land ambulance.

Two cars were involved in the collision which happened just before 7am, a spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance said.

One casualty from each vehicle had to be cut free by firefighters using special cutting equipment. The road was closed in both directions.

John Hawker, ambulance spokesman, said: "We received a call just after 6.45am to a serious road traffic collision on the A49 between Church Stretton and Craven Arms.

"The crash involved two vehicles and both drivers were involved.

"One man in his 30s had been trapped for an hour and suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to the New Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, which is a major trauma unit. The other driver was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with minor injuries.

"We were at the scene for around an hour and 10 minutes, with three ambulances in attendance, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Trentham, a BASICS doctor and an incident support officer."

A West Mercia Police spokesman said the road remained closed at about 8.30am. He said highways officials were also called to the scene to deal with recovery of the vehicles.

In the wake of the crash police closed the road both ways between the B4370 and B4371 junctions.