Rider dies in smash at danger blackspot

A motorcyclist died today after a collision with a pick-up truck at a notorious accident blackspot at Bellman's Cross at Shatterford, near Kidderminster.

The collision caused chaos for early morning commuters travelling from Bridgnorth and from the Kidderminster and Wolverhampton areas who were diverted down narrow lanes via Enville and Kinver to rejoin the A442.

West Midlands Ambulance paramedics were called to the scene shortly before 8am, but the motorcyclist was confirmed dead at the scene.

An air ambulance was alerted but was turned back.

Miss Ruth Lister, a 28-year-old sales executive, said: "It was bedlam. Those roads are just not built to cope with that level of traffic.

"It was chaos as about 40 or more cars travelling in opposite directions tried to get down the narrow lanes.

"People were forced to back up and allow others to pass where they could."

At Stourbridge, a pensioner suffered head injuries when he was knocked down by a Citroen Xsara.

The pedestrian, a man believed to be in his 70s, was taken to hospital with head injuries from Racecourse Lane, Oldswinford, at 8.20am.

The road was closed while investigations began.