Police have issued an update on a crash that closed a busy road near Swindon for several hours.

The emergency services responded to 999 calls from Pavenhill in Purton just before 3pm on Monday after a road traffic collision on the B4696 involving a black Volkswagen Phaeton and a grey Honda Jazz.

Paramedics took the driver of the Volkswagen – a man in his 30s from Swindon – to Southmead Hospital in Bristol by Dorset and Somerset air ambulance with multiple injuries including a serious head injury.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight air ambulance took the driver of the Honda – a man in his 40s from Purton –to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with multiple serious injuries.

Police say the next of kin of both men have been informed.

A Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: "Three fire crews [were] in attendance at a road traffic collision involving two saloon cars on an unclassified road between Braydon crossroads and Purton.

"Firefighters released one of the casualties from their vehicle, and both casualties were attended to by members of the South West Ambulance Service.

"Crews came from Royal Wootton Bassett, Stratton St Margaret, and Swindon. A crew from Westlea was relocated to the centre of Swindon to provide cover. "