Car hits bridge at Market Drayton

Motorists faced rush hour chaos today after a car driven by a man in his 30s crashed into a bridge over a busy road in north Shropshire.

A black Volkswagen Golf collided with the bridge over the A53 in Market Drayton just after 7am.

The driver had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters.

He was then transferred by ambulance to University Hospital North Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent for further assessment and treatment.

The incident sparked long tailbacks along the A53 towards the Gingerbread Man roundabout as police initially closed the road both ways.

Later they reopened the southbound lane, while the northbound lane remained shut for the vehicle to be recovered.

Roger Smith, of Market Drayton fire station, said: "The male driver was trapped and we had to use hydraulic cutting equipment to cut him free but I don't think his injuries were serious."

Claire Thomas, for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "We were called at 7am and sent one ambulance and a medical first responder.

"There was one car involved and one man in his 30s was trapped. He needed help getting out from the vehicle but there were no serious injuries."