Motorcyclists hurt in smash

Two motorcyclists have been seriously hurt in a crash at the same spot which claimed the life of another rider three weeks ago.

The A458 Shrewsbury to Welshpool road, was blocked for two hours last night.

It followed the crash at Cefn Bridge, near Buttington, Welshpool.

Two motorcycles travelling from the Shrewsbury direction were in collision with a car on the bridge at about 6.50pm, police said today.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesman said: "The two motorcyclists suffered serious, but not life-threatening injuries, including a number of fractures."

The riders, both from Shropshire, were taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by ambulance, but their condition was not known this morning.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said a first responder was on the scene within minutes, followed quickly by an ambulance crew which had been on its way back to Welshpool from Shrewsbury.

A Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crew was also called out to make the area safe and the road was reopened by 9pm.

Cefn Bridge is a notorious accident blackspot on the A458 and was the scene of a fatal accident on Easter Sunday, when motorcyclist Michael Powell, from Newport, died.

Yesterday's accident spar-ked another warning from police to riders to slow down and take more care when out on the roads of Powys.

Chief Inspector Phil Davies, of Dyfed-Powys Police, said a motorcyclist was 40 times more likely to be killed compared to a car driver.