A FIVE-year-old has been airlifted to hospital in a serious condition, after a car flipped onto its roof on the M1 near Edgware this afternoon.

The young boy was suffering head injuries and was taken by air ambulance to the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, following the incident on the southbound carriageway.

An adult who was driving the Freelander Land Rover was also taken by air ambulance, although there is no update on their condition.

Police said both carriageways had to be closed after the vehicle flipped onto its roof, but it is not yet clear how the accident occurred.

The London ambulance service said they sent paramedics and the HEMS helicopter, which had to land on the Northbound carriageway, at about 4.40pm.

Traffic is at a standstill southbound on the motorway between junction 4, the A41 in Edgware, and junction 2, in Mill Hill.

Emergency services are still at the scene. Fire crews are attending the crash along with police, who have shut off the road. They are due to open the Northbound carriageway shortly, but delays are expected.

The Highways Agency is reporting the closure as due to “a serious incident”.