The scene on the B5476 after a car crashed into a house early on Saturday morning

A car passenger died and three people were taken to hospital today after a vehicle crashed into a cottage in Shropshire.

Firefighters had to prop up the front of the house, along a road near Wem, to stop it collapsing after the accident in the early hours.

One person, thought to be the driver, had to be cut free from the Nissan car by firefighters after becoming trapped in the vehicle, which had ended up on its side.

The accident happened on the B5476 Shrewsbury Road between Wem and Harmer Hill at about 1.45am.

A backseat passenger in the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver and a frontseat passenger were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital with leg and back injuries. All were believed to be in their 20s.

A man in the house, who was in his 50s, also had to be taken to the RSH after complaining of chest pain. A woman was also believed to have been in the house at the time of the accident.

Suzie Fothergill, for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: “On arrival on the scene crews found a car that had left the road and had been in collision with a house.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the ambulance crews, nothing could be done to save the rear seat passenger, a man, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“Ambulance crews treated one person from the house, a man believed to be in his 50s, for chest pain before conveying him to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further assessment and treatment.”

Rob Corfield, from Shrewsbury Fire Station, said a man and a woman were believed to have been in the building at the time, and shoring equipment had to be used to prop it up.

He said: “Neighbours had gone to help. We shored up the front door and front room area of the house which was severely damaged in the impact.

“It was precautionary, as there was severe damage, and in the absence of a structural engineer.”

Constable Richard Emery, from West Mercia Police, said inquiries were now under way to trace the family of the man who had died. He said he was unable to say whether or not he was from the county.

He said: “Our collision investigation officers were called out and the road was closed for some time following the incident. The vehicle hit a building and caused structural damage to it. The front of the house had to be propped up to prevent it from collapsing. Inquiries are ongoing to contact the next of kin and the investigation into the incident is continuing.”

The road was still closed this morning and police tape was outside the building.

Meanwhile, two people were taken to hospital following a separate road collision involving a motorcycle and a car along the A41 at Whitchurch at about 7.05pm yesterday.

The motorcyclist, a man believed to be in his 40s, was treated on scene for multiple injuries to his back, pelvis, wrist and legs before being taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, and the woman driver of the car was treated for a facial injury before being taken to hospital.