'Serious' crash as car hits people outside Pontyclun pub

Six people have been taken to hospital after being struck in a "serious" crash as a car hit a pub in south Wales.

A pedestrian has suffered life-changing injuries after the collision outside The Windsor Hotel in Pontyclun, Rhondda Cynon Taf, on Thursday evening.

South Wales Police said a 79-year-old local man was believed to have suffered a "medical episode" and his silver Ford Puma hit the pub and the pedestrians.

Officers said the driver of the car is in a critical condition in hospital.

Four other people were also taken to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff as a precaution with minor injuries.

Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the "very distressing incident" on Llantrisant Road in Pontyclun, about 15 miles north-west of Cardiff.

Pub manager Tia Lewis told BBC Wales: "A car came, crashed off the road and hit people sat in the beer garden.

"The car hit the wall of the pub too. It was very frightening, we can't believe it. I just hope the people hurt are okay.

"The pub was pretty busy and because of the nice weather there was obviously people sat outside."

At least five ambulances, several police cars and four fire service vehicles attended the incident which happened just before 20:30 BST on Thursday.

"Emergency services were confronted with a scene which involved a number of casualties," said Ch Insp James Ratti of South Wales Police.

"This was a very distressing incident and we are very grateful to the members of the public who came to the aid of the injured people in the moments immediately after the collision."

A police cordon remains around the area of the pub in the centre of the village and the force have asked people to avoid the area.

Rhondda Cynon Taf leader Andrew Morgan reacted to the incident in his county: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by this."

Local MP Alex Davies-Jones MP added: "My thoughts are with everyone impacted."