Heavy rain and difficult driving conditions have led to a spate of accidents across the county.

A 23-month-old boy was among five people injured in a crash on the notorious Acle Straight - just one of a series of accidents on Norfolk's roads sparked by today's downpour.

The boy, who suffered a cut to the head and concussion, was a passenger in a blue Renault Laguna travelling from Great Yarmouth which was involved in a crash with a black Captive Chevrolet on the Acle Straight about a mile from the Vauxhall Holiday Park.

The male driver of the Laguna, 49, suffered a punctured lung, while his passenger, a 14-year-old male, suffered a ruptured diaphragm and broken arm.

The male driver of the Chevrolet, in his 30s, suffered whiplash injuries in the collision which happened at about 11am.

Clive Smith, 62, was driving to work when the crash happened and said five people immediately rushed to help the victims, while a woman stood in the pouring rain to direct traffic.

The plumber from Mile Cross said the accident could have been worse if the lorry in front of him had not stopped in time.

He said: 'After the accident, one car had gone close to the dyke and the other one had followed it round onto the road.

'People were getting out of their cars and rushing to help them, or parking on the side and using their mobiles.

'It seemed like sometime before the emergency services arrived, but then I heard the air ambulance come flying over above me.'

The 14-year-old old boy and a 49-year-old man were attended to by the crew of Anglia One, operated by the East Anglian Air Ambulance, following the head on collision.

The crew was tasked to attend in view of the serious injuries sustained by the casualties and worked with attending road ambulance crews to extricate the patients, provide pain relief and carry out further medical procedures, including splinting. They then accompanied both patients to the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital by road ambulance.

Police reopened the road after it was shut for four and half hours as emergency services dealt with the incident.

But it was just one of several accidents to take place as the rain caused chaos on the county's roads.

One person was taken to hospital after a Freelander car towing a caravan crashed at the roundabout at Postwick, near the A47, at just after 3.10pm. The injuries were not thought to be serious, but the caravan flipped and partially blocked the road.

A woman was taken to hospital with a back injury after being cut from a blue Metro following a crash at Holt Road, Horsford at 8.15am.

Three vehicles were involved in a crash on the A1075 in Watton at about 10.55am. The road was blocked for about an hour and a half, before reopening at 12.20pm.

A motorcyclist, van and a car were involved in an accident near the A47 roundabout at Easton in Norwich at about 12.45pm.

Meanwhile a jeep and a bus crashed on Heartsease Lane, Norwich, just before 12.40pm, and there were also crashes at Stalham, at about 3.45pm, Arminghall Lane, Arminghall at just after 2pm, Heacham, near Hunstanton, at about 1.20pm and Harleston at 12.30pm.

A Norfolk police spokesman said: 'In this wet weather motorists need to remember to double the usual distance you leave between your car and the car in front of you, as stopping distances are increased by wet roads.

'If steering becomes unresponsive due to the rain, ease off the accelerator and slow down gradually. Drivers should also use their lights and windscreen wipersHave you spotted an accident in the county? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk