Serious traffic accident on A49 near Shrewsbury

Four people were injured - two seriously - following a collision involving two cars on the A49 near Shrewsbury today.

Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to deal with the incident, in which one car caught fire, on a stretch of the road near Bayston Hill just after 2.30pm.

Ambulance officials said crews fought to stop the fire spreading to a second car and they confirmed an elderly couple was treated for "serious multiple injuries" and airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham after being trapped in their vehicle for nearly 30 minutes. Two other people were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by land ambulance.

Police said the A49 was closed at Church Stretton and the first roundabout at Shrewsbury and the road was likely to be closed for some time.

Full coverage in Wednesday's Shropshire Star