A woman driver was airlifted to hospital after suffering neck and back injuries when her car was involved in a collision with a telegraph pole on a rural road.

The casualty, in her 20s, from Tarporley, was injured after her red Peugeot 206 left the carriageway as she was travelling along Tattenhall Road, Newton-by-Tattenhall, close to Blackham Reclamation yard, at 12.15pm on Sunday.

A male, also in his 20s and from Tarporley, was in the passenger seat and able to get out of the vehicle. He was taken to hospital by ambulance but was not seriously injured.

Firefighters had to cut the woman out of the car because she was physically trapped. She was taken to North Staffordshire Hospital by air ambulance where she was detained.

Cheshire Constabulary is investigating what it describes as ‘a serious road traffic collision’.

Police closed the road at Gatesheath Lane to allow a scene examination to be carried out and for the wreck to be recovered at about 5pm.