A man was arrested after the car he was driving plunged into a river in Worcestershire, leaving two child passengers in a critical condition.

The children, a boy and a girl, were airlifted to hospital after the vehicle went into the River Avon in Evesham, at about 9.20am on Thursday.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police, who would not comment on the relationship between the man and the children, said: "A man has been arrested in connection with the incident. No further information is available at this time."

All three emergency services attended the incident in Boat Lane, Evesham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the boy and the man had escaped from the vehicle when its crews arrived, but the girl was pulled from the submerged vehicle around two hours later by police divers.

A spokesman said: "The boy's condition was stabilised before he was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital in a critical condition. A young girl was pulled from the submerged vehicle around two hours later by police divers.

"Ambulance staff immediately started resuscitation attempts and she too was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital."

The man was taken to the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. His condition was not believed to be serious.

Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, an incident support officer, a specialist paramedic from the hazardous area response team and air ambulances from Strensham and Cosford were sent to the scene.

"This was an extremely difficult incident for the staff from all three emergency services," the ambulance service spokesman said. "Their close co-operation has ensured everything that could possibly be done has been."