Two young women had to be cut out of a car after a three-vehicle smash in Bristol.

The driver of the black Citroen CI suffered a suspected broken pelvis and her passenger suffered a suspected spinal injury.

The Citroen was involved in a head-on collision with a Ford Transit van and a Nissan 4x4 was also involved.

It happened just after 3pm today just outside Hills Delivery haulage firm in Feeder Road.

Staff rushed to help those injured and called the emergency services.

First on the scene was Lee Waite, 30, from Temple Cloud, the transport manager at Hills Delivery.

He said: "I was working in the office when I heard a bang. I ran out and went to the aid of the girl in the driver's seat of the Citroen.

"She was trapped. I dialled 999 and held her hand, and made sure she was calm.

"There was a deathly silence when it first happened. Everything was so still.

"Then everybody seemed to come from nowhere. There were people at each of the vehicles."

Managing director Nick Hill, 29, said: "I went to the car first and then checked on the guy in the van.

"He was talking. He was a bit dizzy."

The van driver was also trapped but not thought to be seriously injured.

Other people helped the driver of the 4x4.

A former fireman took charge of the scene and made sure victims were not moved.

Within minutes three ambulances, three rapid response vehicles, and the Great Western Air Ambulance had arrived.

Two fire crews and Great Western Ambulance Service paramedics worked for about an hour to free the trapped women, who were in their late teens or early 20s.

Police sealed a stretch of Feeder Road while they worked.

The driver, who had suffered a suspected broken pelvis, was sedated at the scene.

She and her friend were lifted out of their vehicles on spinal boards.

They were taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary by ambulance.

PC Ben Sale, 35, of Avon and Somerset Constabulary's Road Policing Unit, praised the staff from Hills Delivery and other members of the public who helped.

He said: "They did all the right things and we are very grateful to them for their assistance."

The van driver – a man believed to be in his late 30s – had minor injuries but went to hospital as a precaution.

GWAS Incident Support Officer Alex Jamieson said: "Although the patients went to hospital by land ambulance, having the helicopter there meant there was a doctor on scene who was able to prescribe additional pain relief and provide a fuller assessment of the injuries, which meant the van driver was given the all-clear for any spinal injuries before going to hospital.

"Despite being trapped, all three patients remained conscious throughout their ordeal, so our crews were able to constantly reassure them while our fire service colleagues worked to free them."