A van smashed through the central reservation of the M5 near Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire, overturning and colliding with a car.

Gloucestershire Police said a woman and a child, thought to be about 11, were also severely injured in the accident between junctions eight and nine at 7.30pm on Friday.

The girl, thought to be the injured woman's daughter, was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital by the County Air Ambulance based at Cosford.

The woman was airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital by police helicopter.

A man in his 20s was treated at the scene for head and chest injuries and transferred by land ambulance to Worcester Royal Hospital.

At least 15 more people were treated at the scene for minor injuries, including cuts and bruises, West Midlands Ambulance said. Several more cars are believed to have collided trying to avoid the initial crash.

The motorway reopened after the crash forced the closure of the road in both directions, police said.

The northbound carriageway was closed between junctions nine and 11, while the opposite carriageway was closed between junctions eight and nine.

A police spokesman confirmed that two people travelling in the van, which was carrying beer barrels, and the driver of a Mitsubishi Colt were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.