Two dead and one injured in A417 crash in Gloucestershire

The A417 was shut both ways for several hours around Nettleton Bottom

Two people have died and a third person was seriously injured in a crash on the A417 in Gloucestershire.

Emergency crews were called to reports of a car on fire at Nettleton Bottom, near Birdlip, just after 23:30 GMT on Thursday, according to police.

"One man was taken to Southmead Hospital in a serious condition," said a force spokeswoman.

The road was shut in both directions for several hours but has since been fully reopened.

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service said the crash involved two vehicles.

Police have appealed for anyone who might have information about what happened to get in touch with them.

'Missing link'

The route has previously been described as one of the "worst pinch-points" on the national road network.

It is the main route between Gloucester, Cirencester and Swindon and is often used as a route to link the M5 at Gloucester and the M4 at Swindon.

Most of the road is dual carriageway, aside from the "missing link" from Birdlip, through Nettleton Bottom, to Cowley where it switches to a single carriageway.

There have been a number of fatal crashes there previously, leading to calls for a bypass to be built.

Highways England has said work would not start before 2025.