Five hurt in county smashes

A 21-year-old man was seriously hurt and another four people injured following two crashes on Shropshire roads.

The man was injured in a three-car collision on Manor Lane, Higher Heath, near Whitchurch at shortly after 6pm yesterday.

He was airlifted to the Royal Staffordshire Infirmary with head and chest bruises and serious leg injuries.

A woman in her 60s suffered serious leg injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening. She was taken by ambulance to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

A third person was checked over at the scene but uninjured.

In an earlier crash at Tong, one man had to be cut from his car and another two suffered injuries.

The incident happened on the A41 near the Bell pub, about 2.15pm.

John Hawker, ambulance spokesman said two of the men, both believed to be in their 40s, suffered neck, back and chest injuries and were treated at the scene before being transferred to Princess Royal Hospital.

The third man, also believed to be in his 40s, suffered multiple minor injuries and was also treated at the scene and taken to the same hospital.

Motorists on the M54 were facing delays around the same time after a lorry jackknifed and blocked part of the westbound carriageway between junction three at Cosford and junction four at Shifnal. The motorway was fully reopened by 6pm.