Hit-and-run man in critical condition

It happened at 10.30am on Christmas Day on Rabone Lane with the junction of Soho Street, Smethwick. Police are now trying to trace the driver.

A small white van is believed to have hit the 69-year-old as he crossed the road. A small blue car was behind the van at the time.

The man, who has not been named, sustained serious head and body injuries.

Anyone with information or any witnesses should contact police at Smethwick police station on 0845 113 5000.

It was one of a number of weekend accidents in the area.

A man had to be cut from his car after it hit a concrete barrier on the M5 near Oldbury. Two fire crews from Oldbury were called to the scene of the crash at 5.45pm on Saturday.

The man had been driving north, close to junction two when his car left the carriageway and hit the barrier, on the hard shoulder.

After he was freed by fire crews he was taken to Sandwell hospital by ambulance where he was given a preliminary checkup.

Emergency services, including the police were on scene for 50 minutes.

Meanwhile a father and his two children had to be cut out of their car following a three car crash in Birmingham. Ambulances were called to the junction of Bristol Road and Priory Road in Edgbaston at around 11.30am following the smash, on Saturday morning.

Two ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and an incident support officer were sent to the scene.

West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman Claire Thomas said: "Crews arrived to find three cars which had been involved in a collision.

"One car had also collided with metal railings in the centre of the carriageway.

"A man in his 40s together with his teenage son and daughter were in one car and had suffered injuries in the crash.

"Crews worked with the fire service at the scene to extricate the family from the car by removing the roof from the vehicle.

"The man suffered a hand injury, his son had chest pain and his daughter sustained an ankle injury. All three were taken by ambulance to Selly Oak Hospital for further assessment and treatment.

"No one else was injured in the crash."

Meanwhile a five-year-old boy died after an accident on a child's motorcycle, police said today. He was seriously hurt while riding it at Carmarthen Showground, west Wales, at about 3.30pm yesterday.

He later died of his injuries at the town's West Wales General Hospital.

Dyfed-Powys Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and the incident was being treated as a tragic accident.

The area coroner has been informed.