SEVEN people - including two children - were injured in a road smash during a torrential rainstorm on the A4133 between Droitwich Spa and Ombersley.

The air ambulance joined all three emergency services at the scene of Sunday's crash, which involved a black Renault Megane carrying a family of five, and a silver Rover 25.

The collision at around 1pm closed the road near the entrance to Westwood House for three hours .

Among those travelling in the Renault, a 10-year-old boy suffered head injuries, a seven-year-old boy had minor seat-belt injuries, a 40-year-old woman suffered a fractured leg and a 70-year-old woman, who is thought to have suffered a fractured hip and ribs, were taken to the Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

A fifth young male passenger was shaken up and shocked but not injured.

The woman driver was expected to have surgery on Monday.

A 30-year-old man, who had been in the Rover, suffered a fractured leg and knee was taken by ambulance to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch

Two 20-year-old women, who were also in the Rover, were also taken by ambulance to the Alexandra Hospital with seat-belt injuries.

Firefighter Steve Fincher, who attended the scene, said: "The rain was hammering down and that made it hard to work. We did not have to cut anyone out of the car but we had to take the door off the Megane because one of the women had her foot trapped."

"I think if that crash had happened a few years ago, when car seat belts weren't as good as they are now, we could have been looking at a couple of fatalities. It was quite an impact."

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the incident, or saw either car immediately prior to it, to call 08457 444888, quoting 273S/240705.