Car slips from transporter's top deck

Fire crews were forced to cut the roof off a new Land Rover to free its driver after the vehicle slipped off the upper deck of a car transporter.

The unusual rescue was carried out at Land Rover's plant in Damson Lane, Solihull, amid fears that the trapped driver had suffered back injuries.

The car came off the transporter at about 1700 BST on Tuesday as several new vehicles were being loaded for distribution, a West Midlands Fire Service spokesman confirmed.

The spokesman said the Land Rover ended up in a very precarious position.

"The front wheels were still on the transporter and the rear wheels were hanging off, so the car was hanging in mid-air.

"The driver of the vehicle was complaining of possible spinal injuries so the precautionary measure was taken to remove the roof.

"This obviously took some time because the vehicle had to be stabilised."

The casualty, who was put on a spinal board and taken to hospital, is not thought to be badly hurt.