EMERGENCY services battled for 40 minutes to rescue two people trapped in the twisted wreckage of a three-car collision on the A4 at Studley on Wednesday at 9.30am.

Firefighters used hydraulic jacks and cutting equipment to free an elderly woman and a middle-aged man trapped in their cars.

The crash, which happened at the village crossroads, involved a red Mazda, a blue Vauxhall Vectra and a Volkswagen Golf.

Traffic sergeant Chris Moore said: "It was a very nasty accident. An elderly lady with serious injuries was flown by air ambulance to Royal United Hospital in Bath.

"It returned to take the gentleman trapped in the vehicle, who was still conscious. We are still trying to find out what exactly happened."

Police closed the road at the bottom of Derry Hill near the Studley crossroads until 12.30pm. Traffic was diverted via the A3102 to Calne.