A man and a woman in their 30s were airlifted to hospital today with critical injuries after their car overturned on the M54.

Firefighters from across the West Midlands, Staffordshire and Shropshire attended the crash westbound between Junctions 2 Coven Heath and 3 Tong at 11.30am.

The accident caused huge tailbacks as the motorway was sealed off in both directions.

The man suffered critical head and chest injuries and was airlifted to University Hospital of North Staffordshire. The woman, whose injuries are unknown, was flown to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

The pair were freed from the car in less than an hour by fire crews from Wellington, Albrighton, Tettenhall, Fallings Park, Codsall, Brewood and Stafford.

The air ambulances from Cosford and Stafford were dispatched to the scene, along with ambulances, paramedics and rapid response vehicle.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman Murray MacGregor said only one vehicle was involved.

He said: “The man suffered serious head and chest injuries. His passenger was trapped for a while face down in the vehicle.”

Witness Wayne Metcalfe, of Telford, said: “All we could see was a big cloud of smoke. The traffic is horrendous, it’s all backed up way past Cosford.

People are getting out of their cars and walking up and down.”