The collision occurred outside the community school on Tuesday evening, and the main B3193 road, which has been branded as the most dangerous in the county, was blocked for some time.

One of the casualties, taken by ambulance to Torbay Hospital, was trapped in her damaged Ford Galaxy, which was travelling down the hill, past a line of parked vehicles.

Firefighters used hydraulic rescue equipment to take off the driver’s door so the medical team could safely remove her from the vehicle.

She suffered neck, chest and shoulder injuries.

The driver of the other car, a Ford Focus, which was going up the hill, was described at the scene as ‘walking wounded.’ She did not require hospital treatment.

Both cars were badly damaged.

Diversions were put in, and it was some time before the road was opened again.

Residents living near the scene said parked vehicles made it a hazardous stretch of road.

One said: ‘Sometimes there is only room for one vehicle to pass, especially when larger vehicles are going up or down, and there have been many near misses. Parking just should not be allowed there.’