A WOMAN had a miracle escape from serious injury after the car she was driving plunged 50 feet down a Malvern hillside and hit a tree.

The woman was driving a black polo when she came off the A449, before Sally's Place shop on the junction with the B4232 Jubilee Drive in Upper Colwall at 8.30am this morning.

The car descended 50 feet down the steep slope before hitting a tree, causing damage to the vehicle and shattering the windows.

The car came to a rest on its side a short distance away from two brick buildings, including one which was a power station. The woman was given medical assistance by ambulance staff and a paramedic support officer who attended, along with police and firefighters.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "When ambulance staff arrived they found a car on its side more than 50ft down a steep hillside being secured by the fire service.

"The car’s fall had been broken by a tree which prevented it going any further down the hillside.

“The driver, a woman, managed to self-extricate from the car through the sunroof with help from the fire service.

"The woman was given a full assessment by ambulance staff and, other than some pain in her side, found she had escaped serious injury.

"She was given treatment on scene before she was taken to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further checks.”

A Jubilee Drive resident, who did not want to be named, said: "Someone came into the pub, (the Malvern Hills Hotel) and asked to use the phone to call 999.

"The emergency services got there really quick.

"I spoke to a policeman who said she was very lucky, as she only had a few scratches."

Another resident said they had heard the car rolled three times, before it hit the tree.

At the scene could be seen two tyre marks leading to the tree which has bark ripped away from it. Glass was also scattered around the site.

West Mercia Police closed Jubilee Drive after the incident, reopening it around 11.30am after the scene was made safe and the car was recovered.