Motorists faced yet another morning of misery as an accident caused huge tailbacks to spread throughout the network as people made their way into work today.

Rush hour traffic was stationary along the Aston Expressway as far back as Spaghetti Junction and the M42 after a crash on Great Lister Street.

Police had to shut down the Dartmouth Middleway for nearly five hours as firemen worked to cut the side and roof off a car that had hit another just after 7am. A woman in her 40s was taken to City Hospital after being released from the car.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The car driver was very fortunate to escape serious injury. She was trapped for over 30 minutes, but with relatively minor injuries."