Torrential rain may have contributed to a three car crash on the M4 near Slough and Langley in the early hours of this morning that saw six people taken to hospital.

The crash happened on junctions 5 and 6 at 2am.

A black cab hit the hard shoulder and flipped onto its side, trapping three people who had to be cut free by firefighters. Two other vehicles were also involved.

The taxi had five passengers.

Six ambulances and two rapid response vehicles went to the scene.

It is understood that three of the six taken to hospital were seriously hurt.

Firefighters took 30 minutes to rescue the trapped people and were on the scene making the carriageway safe for a total of 45 minutes.

Watch manager Mike Jeeves from Langley firestation headed the operation. His team was backed by a Slough crew.

Mr Jeeves said that standing water which had formed on the motorway following a torrential downpour could have contributed to the accident.

He warned drivers to take extra care in wet weather.