The crash happened at the junction for Marshbrook, directly outside Station Garage, just before 5pm.

A blue Citroen Saxo was travelling southbound towards Craven Arms when it was in collision with a silver Mercedes S500 heading in the opposite direction.

The female driver of the Citroen suffered serious abdominal and leg injuries and was air lifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she remains in a critical but stable condition today on the Intensive Care Unit.

The male passenger suffered abdominal and chest injuries and was taken to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in Stoke-On-Trent. His condition was today serious but stable.

The male driver of the Mercedes was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for treatment but discharged a few hours later.

West Mercia Police, West Midlands Ambulance Services and Shropshire Fire and Rescue all attended the scene.

The Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and also Strensham attended.

Police Sergeant Darren Heyes, of the Force Operational Support Team, is leading the investigation into the circumstances of the crash and said a number of witnesses had already been spoken to but others may have seen what happened.

“I am keen to hear from anyone who either saw the crash itself or the manner of driving by either vehicle involved immediately beforehand, as this could help us piece together how the crash happened,” he said.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0300 333 3000.”

The road was closed until about 10pm while the emergency services worked at the scene and the vehicles and debris recovered from the carriageway. Diversions were put in place by the Highways Agency.

Witnesses are asked to contact police on 0300 333 3000.

The A49 was closed at Dobbies Island in Shrewsbury to southbound traffic, travel reports suggested a high amount of traffic in the area using small country lanes to avoid the road closure.