One person has been killed and five others injured in two separate crashes across the region.

A man died and two people were taken to hospital after a car overturned into a bog near Machynlleth.

And, in a separate incident, four men scrambled up a bank to safety after their car smashed through railings and landed upside down in a Shropshire river.

Paramedics unsuccessfully fought to revive the man after the Machynlleth accident, which happened on the A487 at Derwenlas at 2.40pm yesterday.

A Wales Ambulance Service spokesman said three ambulances and a helicopter were sent to the scene.

He said: “We got the initial call from the police saying three people were injured and some were trapped in the vehicle.

“We sent an ambulance and our North Wales control room sent two ambulances. It was quite a big incident and the heli-med was called in at about 3.10pm to help.

“Sadly there was one fatality. The casualties were taken to Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth for treatment.”

In Norton, near Bishop’s Castle, a Peugeot 306 smashed through metal railings and plunged into the River Onny at Walkmill Bridge at 12.55am yesterday.

All of the men managed to escape before two ambulance crews arrived.

Three of the passengers, who are thought to be in their 30s, were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

One of the men, a 24-year-old, was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol and was being questioned at Shrewsbury Police Station yesterday.

Barry Preston, who lives in nearby Wentnor, rushed to help the men.

He said: “It looks like they were heading towards Bishop’s Castle and they failed to negotiate the bridge. It’s very tight there and it’s on an angle. It’s a well-known problem spot.

“The water has been fairly high in the last few weeks, if it had been a week ago it probably would have been a lot worse.”