THE A49 between Leominster and Ludlow has been blocked as emergency services responded to a crash.

West Mercia Police warned a crash was blocking the A49 around two miles south of Ludlow, with firefighters trying to "release persons trapped".

"Road currently blocked while emergency crews deal with the incident," it said.

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said one vehicle overturned in the crash.

"One vehicle left roadway, come to rest on its side, crews using spreaders to release persons trapped," the fire service's log said.

It said the service was called at 6.18pm to reports of the crash near Ludlow.

Four fire appliances including the rescue tender, a specialist fire engine, were sent to the scene from Cleobury Mortimer, Ludlow and Wellington.

An operations officer was also in attendance with crews using spreaders, a piece of kit to open vehicles where people are trapped.

Also at the scene were the ambulance service and the police, the fire log said.

Traffic website Inrix was reporting that there is slow traffic due to the crash between the Sheet roundabout in Ludlow and the Richard's Castle turnoff at Ashford Bowdler.

Traffic between Wooferton, on the Herefordshire-Shropshire border, and Ludlow was affected, it added.

The road reopened by 8.40pm, police said.