A YOUNG woman was cut free from the wreckage of a car by firefighters following a smash in a Southampton shopping parade yesterday.

The 25-year-old driver was taken to Southampton General Hospital after a BMW hatchback she was travelling in crashed and overturned in Shirley High Street in Shirley at 6.10am.

Crews from Redbridge and St Mary’s fire stations used hydraulic cutting gear to free her and pass her to waiting paramedics.

She was taken to hospital by ambulance for what are thought to be non life-threatening injuries.

It is not known whether anyone else was travelling in the vehicle at the time.