An Age UK minibus full of elderly passengers was involved in a head-on crash with a car today.

Four passengers from the minibus and the driver of the car, who had to be cut free from the wreckage, were taken to Medway Maritime Hospital with head and back injuries.

The minibus driver is believed to have been treated at a minor injuries unit.

The crash happened in Marine Parade, Sheerness, outside the former Catamaran Yacht Club at 10am and led to road chaos across Sheppey as motorists were diverted through Halfway.

Police closed the road between Richmond Street and Barton's Point Coastal Park as three fire crews battled to cut the car driver free.

Kent Highways posted a tweet warning motorists to expect delays.

Firefighters were at the scene for one hour and 20 minutes.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue Service said: "Three fire engines attended.

"Crews removed the roof of the car to release one person trapped inside."

Rich Airey, media relations manager at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Ambulance crews, including our Hazardous Area Response Team, were at the scene assessing patients from both vehicles.

"Four patients from the minibus and the driver of the car were taken to Medway Maritime Hospital.

"Injuries reported included a head injury and back pain.

He added: "I understand the driver of the minibus attended a minor injuries unit."

Motorists trying to get into Sheerness from Minster were forced to take an alternative route through Halfway which caused gridlock on some of Sheppey's other roads.

Arriva Kent had to divert its 334 Minster to Sheerness and Maidstone bus service.

An Arriva spokesman said: "Due to a police incident along Marine Parade our 334 to Maidstone will be diverted via Halfway but will still be picking up on the normal line of route."

Vicki Foster of Kent Police said: "We were called at 9.52am to a collision involving a minibus and a car. Several people were reported to be injured.

"A road closure was in place to allow emergency services to deal with the incident."

The road was reopened nearly three hours later after the car and minibus were recovered.

That stretch of road is a notorious accident black-spot. It has a double-bend where the speed limit changes from 30 to 40mph.

Bosses at the CYC Coastal Club have spent thousands of pounds replacing their perimeter fence after crashes and have now installed crash barriers.

Alan Doucy, chairman of Age UK Sheppey, said: "This was a very nasty accident.

"The people on board were all on their way to our day centre in Trinity Road, Sheerness, with one of our very experienced drivers.

"We have let all the families know and are now waiting to hear how everyone is."

Both vehicles were written off.

The black car was spun round to face the opposite way by the force of the impact.

Mr Doucy added: "Looking at the damage to the vehicles, this could have been so much worse."