A SERIOUS road traffic accident took place in the Southend on Sunday evening.

The incident happened at 11.10pm, close to the turn for the John Masefield High School.

A car driven by a young man ended up on its side, after leaving the road and being in collision with bushes and a wall.

The vehicle was leaking petrol following the smash, and there was also brick debri in the road.

The driver, who had been heading in the direction of Gloucester, was cut from his car by firefighters from Ledbury and Malvern.

Paramedics also attended and treated the young man while he was still trapped in the vehicle.

The roof had to be removed with cutting gear to get him out and he was taken to hospital on a spinal board.

A local resident said the car had appeared to fly through the air before ending up on its side in the bushes.

Remarkably, the man suffered only minor injuries.

But fire and ambulance have confirmed other details: with the ambulance service saying that one report had the car narrowly missing a group of people as it left the road.

The cause of the accident at present isn't know, but the incident has led to public concerns about traffic safety along the Southend and the Gloucester Road and calls for traffic-calming measures.

Police are calling for witnesses to step forward.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at 11.05pm on Sunday (29 May) to reports of a single car collision on the A417 near to John Masefield High School. There appeared to be a black MG in a ditch. Fire service and ambulance also attended, and the driver was taken to hospital. The road was closed at the top of Biddulph Way whilst emergency services attended.

"Investigations are ongoing. If anyone witnessed the collision, please call police on 101 quoting incident number 0818S of 29 May 2016."