A driver was left fighting for his life in hospital tonight after being involved in a horror smash on a busy Bradford road.

The man was behind the wheel of a convertible MG car when it left the road and smashed into a wall on Bradford Road in Oakenshaw.

A second man, who was travelling as a passenger in the vehicle, was also taken to hospital for injuries sustained in the crash, which took place just after 3.30am today.

A spokesman for West Yorkshire police described the condition of the driver as “critical”, with the passenger described as “seriously injured.”

One local councillor expressed his sadness at the “tragic” incident, but said it was not the first to occur at that exact location.

In a witness appeal issued in the aftermath of the crash, a police spokesman said: “Officers were called at around 3.30am to Bradford Road, at the junction of Wyke Lane.

“A silver MGF car was travelling from Low Moor in the direction of Chain Bar, when it was in collision with a wall.

“The male driver and a male passenger suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital.

“Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the car driving in the area prior to the collision, to get in touch.”

A spokesman for the Odsal fire crew said police and paramedics were already on the scene by the time they arrived with crews from Cleckheaton.

He said the car had hit a wall near St Andrew’s Church, which is situated just past the Richardsons Arms pub.

Firefighters had to cut the doors off the car to free two men, who they described as being in their 30s, who had been trapped in the vehicle.

Officers from the West Yorkshire Police Safer Roads Team remained at the scene during this morning's rush hour, with Bradford Road and Cleckheaton Road cordoned off, leading to significant traffic delays in the area.

The road was re-opened at around 9.15am.

In June 2014, firefighters had to cut two men free from an Audi A5 that had crashed in the same location as today’s incident.

In that instance, it was thought the driver “lost control” on the bend and crashed into a street light before coming to a stop against the gates of the church.

Councillor John Lawson (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) said he was saddened to hear of yesterday’s incident, and reiterated that it was not the first serious crash to happen on the same stretch of road.

“I don’t know the details, but it appears like such an unnecessary accident,” he said.

“It’s so sad, I just hope the people involved recover.

“This is the second crash we have seen there in the last couple of years, and the previous one was also very serious.”

Cllr Lawson said that in the incident he recalled, a car had been travelling at speed and flown into the air before coming to rest, causing a tremor through the ground that was so strong it stopped the church clock.

“We have campaigned before for safety measures at this site,” he said.

“Residents were concerned at the road being unsafe and difficult to cross, especially when the nursery was being held in the church, and we campaigned for the traffic lights to be installed.

“It took a long time, but we got them.

“The fact is that this has been highlighted as a dangerous corner.”

On the Telegraph & Argus Facebook page, Adama-Cherry Devill said that she was the person who had reported the incident to the emergency services.

She commented on the story: “I was the one who responded and called this in.

“Was not nice at all, can’t close my eyes without seeing the injuries and mess.”

A spokesman for the Church of England’s Diocese of Leeds, which includes St Andrew’s, said there had been no reports of specific damage linked to the crash.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 195 of July 13.