Teen held after car hits bridge and police vehicle

The A3400 Clopton Bridge is a major route in and out of Stratford-upon-Avon

A bridge is partially closed after a car carrying a pregnant woman and young child crashed into a police patrol vehicle.

Police said a male driver, 19, had been arrested after he reportedly performed a handbrake turn on the A3400 Clopton Bridge before colliding with the police car and the bridge wall about 23:30 BST on Wednesday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service confirmed it treated the driver, a female passenger and a child for minor injuries before taking them to Warwick Hospital.

Two police officers were also treated for minor injuries and discharged at the scene.

A structural engineer deemed the bridge unsafe, police said

The driver, from Bishops Tachbrook, has been discharged from hospital and is being held in custody, police confirmed.

The force wrote on Facebook the driver failed to stop after patrol officers noticed his car had an ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) marker.

The driver reportedly performed a handbrake turn on the bridge before colliding with the patrol vehicle and the bridge wall.

"Unknown to us until after the collision was the fact that there was a pregnant woman and an infant in the car. Thankfully, they were not seriously injured, " the spokesperson added.

The bridge was inspected by a structural engineer overnight, with "concern expressed as to its safety," they said.

The southbound lane remains shut and officers advised motorists to avoid the area where possible.

The bridge is partially closed to traffic following the collision