THREE children travelling by car had a lucky escape after their mother became unconscious in an accident while driving close to Ross-on-Wye.

The three youngsters were sat in the back seat of their mother's Peugeot 306.

They were looked after by a fire fighter as his colleagues dealt with the accident which occurred at around 5.10pm last Sunday (April 22) at Upton Road in Upton Bishop.

Alec Mackie, spokesman for the fire service, said: "A young mum knocked herself out and was unconscious in the driver's seat. In the back seat there were twins aged between six and 12 months, strapped in their child seats, and their sister who was a bit older.

"She was in the middle of them, with her lap belt round her, when the car hit the side of the road. While we got their mother out one of the crew from Ross looked after the three children and we offered what comfort we could."

The mother, thought to be in her 20s, sustained head injuries and was taken away on a spinal board by the air ambulance after fire fighters removed the roof of the car.

She was unconscious when the air ambulance arrived from Strensham but regained consciousness before being flown to Hereford County Hospital with injuries thought not to be life-threatening.

The oldest child suffered facial injuries after banging her head. Members of the public reported the accident to emergency services and no other vehicles were involved.

Two crews from Ross-on-Wye attended the incident, close to the Moody Cow public house, and the road was closed while the vehicle was removed before re-opening at 6.39pm.