A family of mourners, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured when a car ploughed into them as they walked to a funeral in Shropshire.

Jordan Bentley was airlifted to hospital with head and knee injuries following the accident in Adderley, near Market Drayton, just after 11am yesterday.

His father Peter Bentley, who witnesses said “bore the brunt” of the impact, was rushed to hospital by ambulance suffering with head injuries.

The boy’s mother, who was uninjured, travelled with him in the air ambulance to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire. A third victim, who was not related to the Bentleys, was left with cuts to his head.

Reverend Roger Anders, Rector of Adderley, said the family were attending the funeral of Mr Bentley’s aunt, 72-year-old Winnie Booth, from Audlem, at St Peter’s Church.

“The funeral had to be delayed a little and we said prayers for the injured,” he said.

Witnesses said the family parked at the village hall and walked along the A529 through the village, which has no footpaths, when they were struck from behind by a Black Renault Megane. The road was closed for more than two hours following the crash.

Ian Townley, Adderley parish councillor said: “The victims were all in shock and one was walking wounded – it was terrible. The driver was in a terrible state and she stayed to wait for the police to arrive.”

Sarah Booth, Mrs Booth’s granddaughter from Adderely, said: “It was just awful and I cannot believe it happened.”

She added the Bentleys had lived in Market Drayton but now live in Scotland.