FIREFIGHTERS had to cut the roof off a car which was used to take an injured man to Bradford Royal Infirmary after a multi-vehicle crash.

The car - a white Volkswagen - had not been involved in the smash, which happened in Leeds Road, Thornbury, at about 12.40am yesterday.

But a fire service spokesman said firefighters were forced to cut its roof off while it was parked outside the hospital's accident and emergency entrance because the man had suffered suspected serious spinal injuries in the four-vehicle pile-up.

"We helped a guy out of car that had been driven from the accident to BRI," said the spokesman.

"The car was parked right outside A&E. We took the roof off the car and took him out.

"This car had not been involved in the accident, there had been no damage to it."

The car was still parked at the hospital yesterday, with its roof placed on a grass verge nearby. Inside the car was a pair of jeans that looked like they had been cut off someone.

Police said the collision involved a white Volvo lorry, a blue BMW M5, a grey Audi A4 and a silver Vauxhall Corsa, and happened close to the junction with Wensleydale Road.

A 22-year-old Bradford man was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with internal injuries, which were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police also said a 21-year-old Bradford man was taken to BRI with a broken collarbone and ankle injuries.

Witnesses said the cars involved had been racing along Leeds Road, using both sides of the carriageway, shortly before the crash.

Yas Qureshi was travelling home to Pudsey when a friend got in touch to tell him about the crash. Mr Qureshi's friend works in a shop near the scene and heard the collision.

"He saw the lads involved run off," said Mr Qureshi, whose friend said the cars had been racing on both sides of Leeds Road.

"One could barely walk, one had his head bleeding, and a third was out of it but managed to walk off. One had a back injury. They definitely needed medical help.

"The lorry driver said he got it all on dash-cam. He said they were really lucky not to hit him head-on. They were using both lanes.

"Someone else said he could hear cars racing from a street away."

Mr Qureshi added: "It is getting crazy up there. The cars were totally smashed. Luckily we took the adjacent road - it could have been us involved."

Councillor Faisal Khan (Respect, Bradford Moor) said he and fellow councillors had asked Council officers to see what traffic calming measures could be introduced in Leeds Road in the wake of the death of Michael McDermott in February.

The pensioner, known as Micky Mack, was killed when a car ploughed into his mobility scooter as he crossed Leeds Road, not far from yesterday's smash.

Cllr Khan said: "Irrespective of counter-measures that may be put in place, that kind of racing up and down the road should not be tolerated at all.

"It always ends up in injury and, sometimes, as we have seen, death.

"The attitude of young drivers needs to change - they need to be more responsible for the car they are driving."

Police have urged witnesses to contact the Safer Roads and Neighbourhood Support team on 101.