Roads closed after spate of accidents

A spate of road accidents across Shropshire sparked traffic chaos and saw one woman airlifted from one smash and two motorists rushed to hospital from another.

The woman, who has not been named, was flown to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke after a two-car smash on the A49 south of Shrewsbury yesterday.

The crash closed the road between Dorrington and Bayston Hill for nearly six hours with queues building up in both directions.

An Audi and Land Rover Defender towing a trailer were involved in the crash at about 9.30am.

The driver of the Audi, believed to be in her mid 30s, had to be cut free by fire crews after being trapped for about 90 minutes, and was airlifted to hospital with serious leg injuries.

The male driver of the Land Rover, in his late 20s, was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital. The road reopened at 3pm.

Meanwhile, two motorists were taken to hospital with suspected serious injuries following a two-car smash near Market Drayton at about 6am, yesterday.

It happened on the A529 at Lockley Wood, leaving the road closed until 9.20am.

A man in his 40s suffered neck and back pain, while an 18-year-old man had head and chest injuries.

In the other car a motorist was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford with suspected whiplash.

Witnesses to either accident can contact 101.