Major delays after A5 accident

A trailer carrying dozens of sheep overturned on a busy road on the outskirts of Shrewsbury today closing part of the carriageway and causing delays of up to 20 minutes.

About 40 sheep were left trapped when the Land Rover Defender and trailer overturned on the A5 between Dobbies' Island and Emstrey Island at about 9.30am.

A section of the A5 was closed for about two hours while emergency services dealt with the incident and a vet was called to check over the animals.

Officials said that some of the sheep were believed to have been killed in the crash.

The driver of the Land Rover was treated for minor injuries at the scene but did not require hospital treatment.

Diversions were set up but drivers faced delays of up to 20 minutes as the road was closed in the east-bound direction between Dobbies' Island and the Weeping Cross junction as emergency services waited for a second trailer to transfer the animals from the scene.

Jo Carroll, a spokesman for the Highways Agency, said: "The incident came in at 9.35am. There was a full closure of the road temporarily, which came off at 11.51am. It appears some of the sheep were killed in the incident."

Richard Ewels, a spokesman for West Mercia Police, said: "A Land Rover Defender with a stock trailer carrying sheep overturned and both the vehicle and trailer ended up on their side in the middle of the road.

"There has been considerable congestion and one lane was totally blocked.

"It was sorted very quickly. The A5 reopened at about 11.50am. The sheep were transferred to another trailer and everything is running smoothly again."

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "One person was treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene."