A six-year-old child has been airlifted to hospital with potentially life threatening injuries following a head-on collision.

Three cars collided on the A418 Thame western bypass at about 1.30pm today.

The child, a passenger in one of the cars, was taken by air ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford with injuries described by an ambulance spokesman as very serious and potentially life threatening.

A 19-year-old man with head injuries and a 35-year-old man with chest injuries were also taken to hospital by air ambulance and their condition is said to be serious.

A 43-year-old woman was taken to the hospital by road ambulance and her condition is unknown.

Police have closed the A418 between the junctions with Oxford Road and Thame Road and it is expected to be shut for the rest of the afternoon.

The three vehicles involved in the collision were a black Skoda Fabia, a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a grey Honda CRV.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact them on 08458 505505.