Couple in tractor crash

An elderly couple had a lucky escape after their car collided with a tractor in a Staffordshire village.

The couple were driving on the Newport Road, in Gnosall, at around 2.50pm yesterday when the collision happened near the Navigation Inn.

The pair were trapped in their car for around half an hour as firefighters used specialist hydraulic cutting equipment to free them.

The couple escaped serious injury but were trapped because of the damage to the car. The road was closed for around one hour whilst firefighters from Gnosall and Stafford carried out the rescue. The Midlands Air Ambulance, a rapid response vehicle and a land ambulance were sent to the scene.

As a precaution the couple were taken by land ambulance to Stafford Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

John Hawker, spokesman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service, said: "The couple were trapped by the damage to their vehicle, rather than any injuries they had sustained.

"It would seem they had a lucky escape."

Heather Challinor, spokeswoman for Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "We received the call at 2.52pm and by 3.35pm both casualties had been released."