AN ELDERLY woman had to be rescued from a ‘precariously positioned’ car which had left the M4 motorway and was found in a tree.

The female passenger of the car, thought to be in her eighties, was helped out of the vehicle by firefighters after the incident on the eastbound carriageway between junctions 18 and 17 on Monday afternoon.

She suffered neck and spinal injuries as well as facial injuries.

Four fire crews were called to the one-vehicle incident at 1.29pm. A male driver, believed to be in his fifties, escaped unhurt.

James Bladon, spokesman for Avon Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Four crews dealt with this incident, one from Yate, two from Bath and we were supported by one fire engine from Wiltshire Fire Service.

“The car had left the road before going up an embankment and finishing partly in a tree.

“Once on the scene, crews found the male driver was able to get out of the vehicle, however, the female was still in the car.”

He added: “Due to the precarious position of the car, firefighters used straps and lines before assisting the lady from the car on to a spinal board before being taken to hospital.”