Bank holiday traffic built up after a two vehicle crash on the Plymouth-bound carriageway of the A38 at Harcombe bends on Friday afternoon.

A Rover 214 and a grey Ford Focus were involved in the head-on smash, which took place just before 4pm.

A police spokesman said: 'Prior to the head-on collision police had received several calls from the public reporting a car travelling the wrong way on the dual carriageway.'

Devon Air Ambulance took one casualty, a 79-year-old woman from Bridgwater, to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital after firefighters cut her free from the wreckage.

The driver of the Ford, a 55-year-old woman from the Plymouth area, was also taken to the same hospital by ambulance. She was described by police as 'walking wounded'.

Both suffered from neck and chest injuries.

The south-bound carriageway was closed for an hour while emergency services tended to the scene.

One lane was reopened to ease the traffic flow and within two hours all lanes were operational.

The north-bound section was also closed for a short period so Devon Air Ambulance could land and take a casualty to hospital.

Three fire engines and a specialist rescue from Bovey Tracey, Exeter Danes Castle and Exeter attended, plus a specialist rescue vehicle from Exmouth.