A 66-YEAR-OLD driver has been taken to hospital by air ambulance after being involved in a crash on the A417 near Birdlip earlier today, Thursday.

Her BMW car was in collision with a skip lorry near the Air Balloon roundabout.

Fire crews were called to cut her free from the vehicle.

She was flown to Southmead Hospital in Bristol suffering several fractures.

The driver of the skip lorry, which had gone down an embankment and landed on its side, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.

The incident happened just before 10am causing severe traffic delays in the area.

Part of the A417 at Birdlip was closed and diversions put in operation and the section between the Air Balloon and the A46 Shurdington Road remains closed.

Inspector Kevin Roseblade said: "This was a serious accident and it was necessary to close the road for two-and-a-half hours for a full collision investigation to take place.

"Then the closure had to remain in place to recover the skip lorry which had gone 15ft down an embankment and landed on its side.

"Hopefully, we will be able to reopen the road at about 5pm."