A CAR that caught fire following a crash in Canon Pyon this morning hit a tree, the ambulance service has confirmed.

A man was airlifted with life-threatening injuries after his Ford Fiesta crashed on the A4110 at around 6.55am.

Firefighters extinguished the flames before the man was treated for serious burns, as well as multiple fractures to his arm and legs.

“On arrival at the scene, crews found a car that was on fire after it had reportedly been in collision with a tree," said West Midlands Ambulance spokesman Suzie Wheaton.

“The driver of the car, a man, was out of the vehicle.

"Crews immediately treated him for extensive burns to his body and multiple fractures to his arm and legs.

“Due to the serious nature of the man’s injuries, the doctor gave the man an anaesthetic at the scene before he was airlifted to the major trauma centre at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further assessment and specialist treatment.

“The hospital was pre-alerted to the critical condition of the patient and medics were on standby awaiting his arrival.”