A taxi driver was rescued by fire fighters on the M4 this morning after a flatbed recovery truck crashed into the back of it as it was pulling into the hard shoulder.

Crews from Whitley Wood, Dee Road and Caversham Road were called to the incident between junction 13 for Chieveley and junction 14 for Hungerford at around 6.30am.

Delta watch manager Matt Martin from Whitley Wood, said: "It was a flatpack recovery truck versus a taxi, on its way back from Heathrow.

"The taxi lost all power so the driver pulled over into the hard shoulder but the flatbed truck went straight into the back of it.

"The passenger who was travelling back from Heathrow was not injured but the driver had a bad injury to her head and we had to take the roof off the car to get her out safely."

David Gallagher, spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service, said: "We were called today at 6.30am to reports of two cars colliding at high speed.

"We had one male patient with minor injuries who was taken to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and one female patient with serious injuries who was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

"We sent a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer and two ambulances."

A westbound lane of the M4 between Chieveley and Hungerford is reportedly closed.