NINE people crammed into one car - including two squeezed into the boot - all had to be taken to hospital after a late night crash near Junction 17 at Chippenham.

The group was travelling back to London on Sunday night when their seven-seater Vauxhall Zafira went head-on into a wooden telegraph pole.

Paramedics took five occupants to Great Western Hospital in Swindon and the other four to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

Ken and Philippa Hayward, who live at the farm next to where the collision happened, on the B4122 at Draycot Cerne, were awoken just before 2am by a loud bang and thought at first that one of their horses had got out.

“When I realised it wasn't that I went back to bed,” said Mr Hayward. About 10 minutes later they were disturbed again by an abundance of blue flashing lights as one emergency vehicle after another arrived.

Mr Hayward said: “I thought, Not again, as there have been a lot of accidents on this road. One weekend we two cars come through our hedge, one on the Saturday and one on the Sunday.”

On venturing outside he was confronted with a striking scene that included ten police officers, five ambulances and three fire engines.

“I was amazed, there where blue lights everywhere,” he said.

“The telegraph pole was down and part of our wall was damaged. Two girls were sat on the side of the road wrapped in blankets crying.”

A rapid response vehicle, a critical care team and a BASICS doctor also responded, as well as two ambulance service officers to manage the scene.

A female police officer reported being punched in the face by one of the women in the car.

Firefighters had to cut one woman free before she was treated, but no one's injuries were said to be serious.

BT were at the scene yesterday to replace the damaged pole.

A 25-year-old woman from London was arrested on suspicion of driving over the drink-drive limit, possession of class A and class B drugs and assault of a police officer. She has been released on police bail.