A POLICE officer had to be cut free from a patrol car by firefighters and was taken to hospital with "potentially serious injuries" after a crash neat the Merry Hill shopping centre.

TWO men have been arrested after an Audi A3 which failed to stop for officers smashed into a police car near on the A4036 Merry Hill in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday December 4). 

The road was closed off until around 7.30am. Police are investigating and have appealed for witnesses. 

The driver and passenger of the Audi, aged 42 and 53, were arrested and taken to hospital for checks.

The Audi was being driven on the wrong side of the A4036 Merry Hill, before colliding with a police car, which was driving on the correct side of the road, and which was not involved in the pursuit.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: "Officers first became suspicious of the Audi when they saw it being driven near the Merry Hill centre at around 3am this morning (Wednesday December 4). 

"They pursued it and it made off from officers before it was stung on Coppice Lane."

The Audi continued and drove on the wrong side of the A4036 Merry Hill when the crash happened. 

A second officer was not injured and is being supported by colleagues.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service: "We were called to reports of an RTC on Madison Avenue in Brierley Hill just after 3am and sent three ambulances and two paramedic officers to the scene.

"On arrival, crews discovered two cars had been involved in a collision.

"Three men were treated for potentially serious injuries before two were taken to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and the third to Russells Hall Hospital."

Police are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 101 or Live Chat on the website, quoting log 263 of 4 December.