A nine-year-old girl was killed in a two-vehicle crash on a Shropshire road while travelling with her mother, police said today.

The girl and her mother, who remains in hospital, were travelling on the B4371 Much Wenlock to Church Stretton Road just before Hope Bowlder when the crash happened at 11.20am on Saturday.

The child was airlifted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital but efforts to save her failed. Her mother, in her late 30s, was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham where her condition is described as “stable”.

The crash involved a red Land Rover and a silver Citroen, travelling in opposite directions. One of the vehicles left the road.

Inspector Jeremy Gregory, of West Mercia Police, said: “Police are appealing for witnesses following a road traffic collision which resulted in a nine-year-old child sustaining fatal injuries. The mother of the child sustained leg and hand injuries and her condition is described as stable.”

The coroner for South Shropshire, Mr Anthony Sibcy, has been informed and a post mortem examination and inquest opening are expected to take place later this week.

Several witnesses and members of the public phoned the emergency services.

Today, a resident from the Highlands Bed and Breakfast said he was in the garden at the time of the accident and described it as “pandemonium”.

He said: “We live just off the road that led to the crash. We didn’t go and look because we aren’t like that, but we could see the helicopter and the road was closed while they all dealt it. I am very sorry to hear about the little girl.”

Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and two air ambulances, one from Cosford and one from Stafford, were sent to the scene.

John Hawker, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said: “On arrival at the scene, crews found a car that had left the road and landed in a field on its wheels.

“It is believed the vehicle may have also struck a tree and rolled over prior to it landing in the field which was down an embankment of around 20ft from the road.”

Witnesses are urged to call police on 08457 444888.

By Kirsty Marston and Catherine Roche