The crash happened at around 5.45pm on the B4380, between Cressage and Eaton Constantine involving two cars.

A 63 year old driver was trapped in the wreckage of one vehicle for around 40 minutes while fire and ambulance staff worked together to release him.

He was complaining of pain in his neck, shoulder and ribs. He also had a possible abdominal injury and had been knocked unconscious briefly.

He was assessed at the scene before being airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, one of three Major Trauma Centres in the region.

A 33 year old man in the other vehicle was already out of the car when crews arrived. He was assessed at the scene before being discharged.

The West Midlands Trauma Care System went live this morning and is expected to save up to 60 lives of people with the most severe life threatening injuries.

Trauma Lead for West Midlands Ambulance Service, Sandy Brown, said: “A key part of the trauma care system will be the introduction of a trauma desk at WMAS which will be manned by senior paramedics who have extended knowledge and experience of dealing with major trauma patients.

“They will work with crews at the scene to ensure that patients with serious traumatic injuries are taken direct to a major trauma centre if they are within 45 minutes on blue lights.

“In addition, the scheme will see a specialist doctor available to respond 24 hours a day to assist crews or transfer patients from trauma units to the major trauma centres. During daylight hours, the doctor will be based on an air ambulance.”