THE driver of a Reliant Robin died today and another motorist was trapped for more than an hour after a three-crash on the A44 at Cotheridge, near Worcester.

Police confirmed the cars were "local" but said the driver, who was pronounced dead at the scene, would not be named until next of kin were informed.

Rush-hour traffic was diverted as firefighters battled to free the driver of a Volvo 940, who had to be stabilised before being removed from the wreckage.

Three fire crews, the flying doctor and the air ambulance attended the accident which happened at 6.50am at the junction of the A44 Bromyard Road and Otherton Lane.

The trapped man, believed to be in his 50s, was airlifted to Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital with head, chest and leg injuries.

A third motorist, who was driving a Vauxhall Astra, was not injured.

Fire brigade spokesman Alec Mackie said crews from the city's Blue Watch worked to free the Volvo driver for nearly an hour.

It took 50 minutes to free the injured driver using specialist cutting equipment to remove the Volvo's roof under medical supervision to ensure the driver was not affected.

"There were no fires and both carriageways of the road were blocked by wreckage," Mr Mackie added.

The air ambulance crew arrived an hour after the tragedy because it had been too dark to fly before, a spokesman for the service said.

"The land crew had him ready for us," he said.

The A44 was expected to remain closed at the scene of the accident for the rest of this morning. Diversions were put in place via Crown East.

"It's too early to say what happened at this stage," said Sgt Richard Robson, of West Mercia's police's Pershore-based operation response unit.

"I'd appeal for witnesses to contact PC Howard Latham on 01905 723888 who is investigating the incident."