A YOUNG mother died and her two daughters were seriously injured following a crash near Leominster yesterday.

Emergency services were called to reports of a collision involving a black Ford Ka travelling towards Leominster and a red Land Rover Freelander travelling in the opposite direction on the A44 at Monkland at 2.20pm on Sunday.

Two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer, a doctor from Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS) and two air ambulances (Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance and Wales Air Ambulance) were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said the driver of one of the cars, a woman in her 30s, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Two young girls, believed to be aged eight and five, who were passengers in the vehicle sustained serious injuries.

Ambulance staff, together with the doctor and helicopter medics, worked to stabilise the girls’ injuries and administer advanced analgesia whilst the fire service released them from the wreckage.

The girls were then fully immobilised before being airlifted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further specialist trauma care.

The two occupants of the second car were described as ‘walking wounded’ and did not require hospital treatment.

PC Bob Conway said: "Our thoughts are with the family at this tragic time.

"I would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to get in touch."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident reference 452s of the Sunday, June 26.