Alasdair McGregorA Norfolk man was among 12 people taken to hospital following a seven-vehicle crash on the M6 in Warwickshire today.Alasdair McGregor

A Norfolk man was among 12 people taken to hospital following a seven-vehicle crash on the M6 in Warwickshire today.

The 37-year-old man from the county was travelling in a Fiat van and was taken to University Hospital, Coventry, suffering from a lower back injury.

Two of the casualties of the crash were in a serious condition, according to West Midlands Ambulance Service.

A six-year-old girl suffered severe head injuries and was airlifted to hospital, while her aunt, aged about 65, suffered potentially serious chest injuries and was airlifted to the regional trauma centre at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital.

The girl's brother, who is about two years old, was taken by land ambulance to the University Hospital in Coventry suffering from facial injuries.

He was accompanied by his 36-year-old mother who suffered severe bruising to her arm.

The two children will be transferred to the Birmingham Children's Hospital for further treatment, Warwickshire Police said.

All four family members were travelling in a blue Audi A4 estate car along the M6 southbound, when the collision happened just after 5.30pm between junction 1 near Rugby and the Catthorpe interchange where the M6, M1 and A14 meet.

The collision involved the Audi, a red articulated Renault lorry, a silver Ford Mondeo saloon car, two grey Fiat Ducato panel vans, a blue Vauxhall Vectra saloon car and a green Toyota multi-purpose vehicle, which came to rest on its roof.

The driver of the articulated lorry was arrested at about 6.40pm on suspicion of dangerous driving and was taken into custody at Rugby Police Station, a police spokesman said.