Motorists faced long delays after a West Midlands motorway smash left a seriously injured man trapped in his car for an hour.

All three lanes of the southbound M42 were closed between junctions 10 and 11 near Tamworth after collision between a truck and four cars.

The man, in his 50s, suffered serious back injuries and received emergency treatment from medics while being released from his car.

After being trapped for an hour he was immobilised using a spinal board and neck collar and taken to George Eliot Hospital, in Nuneaton, for further treatment.

Two other men, one in his 30s and one in his 40s, suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

The HGV driver and driver of the fourth car were unhurt.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “Considering the damage to the vehicles, the occupants were fortunate not to have suffered more serious injuries.”

Following the smash, which saw parts of the central reservation smashed and an oil leak on the carriageway, some motorists were delayed for more than three hours.

Traffic began moving again shortly after 12.30pm.