Three people were taken to hospital after a crash near a Shropshire level crossing which caused long tailbacks for drivers and led to trains using the line being delayed.

Two men were trapped inside the wreckage of their vehicles, which were involved in the smash on the A49 at Onibury near Craven Arms.

The accident, at 3.15pm yesterday, involved a car and two four-wheel drive vehicles. Firefighters released the two trapped men in just under an hour.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Suzie Fothergill said: “The driver of the first 4×4, a man in his late 30s, was trapped in the vehicle for a period of time. Once freed, the man was treated for chest pain.

“The driver of the second 4×4, a man believed to be in his late 50s, was also trapped in his vehicle. Once freed, he was treated for chest and pelvic injuries.

“The man was immobilised using a neck collar and spinal board before being conveyed to hospital via air ambulance.”

A passenger in the second 4×4, a woman believed to be in her 50s, was treated for chest pain before being taken to hospital.

The driver of the car, a man believed to be in his 40s, was uninjured.

All three were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Police say the accident led to traffic congestion with tailbacks stretching back through Craven Arms. The road was cleared just after 6pm.

There were some delays to trains when traffic at the scene meant the automatic level crossing barriers could not be lowered.