A 78-year-old man has died after suffering multiple injuries in a two-vehicle smash on a Shropshire road.

The pensioner was the driver of a silver Audi.

It was involved in the collision on the A49 at Wooferton, near Ludlow, at about 11.25am yesterday. He was airlifted to Birmingham’s Selly Oak Hospital but later died.

Firefighters fought to free the man and police and paramedics also attended the smash, which closed the road for a number of hours.

A second man, the driver of a silver-coloured Mercedes, was described by paramedics as “walking wounded” and was taken to Hereford County Hospital.

Chris Kowalik, for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the ambulance service’s medical director also attended the scene and accompanied the pensioner to Selly Oak Hospital.

He added: “Crews arrived to find a car and a 4×4 which had been involved in a collision.

“The driver of the car was trapped in his vehicle. He was cut free by the fire service under the supervision of the ambulance medical director and the air ambulance crew.

“He was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital where sadly, he later died.”

A police spokesman said: “The driver of the Mercedes was conveyed from the scene to a local hospital by land ambulance and his injuries are not considered to be life-threatening at this time.”

The road was closed until 3.45pm and diversions were put in place.

The coroner for south Shropshire has been informed.

Police are today appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information should contact Ludlow police on 0300 333 3000.