Image caption The incident happened on Tuesday evening on the Gellideg estate

Two boys aged 10 and 12 have been taken to hospital after a car crashed into a group of young people in Merthyr Tydfil.

The incident happened when a silver Audi left the road and hit the group at Heol Scwrfa on Gellideg estate on Tuesday at about 19:00 BST.

The driver, 32, has been arrested in connection with the crash and remains in custody.

South Wales Police said the 12-year-old boy suffered serious injuries.

He is being treated at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: "I was on my laptop when I heard a car horn which went on for three or four seconds.

"I thought it might have been aimed at a dog or something in the road. Then I heard loud revving so I looked out the window and saw a car had mounted the kerb and was dragging one lad with it before it hit the wall of the house opposite and came to a stop."

Image caption The car left the road on Heol Scwrfa

The neighbour said boys were always playing football and other games in that area.

"They were just sat down on the grass away from the kerb," he said.

"People started running out to help. I rang the ambulance. People were everywhere trying to help. Police had flood lights set up all night removing the debris and checking the road."

A police statement said the car "left the carriageway and collided with a number of youths at the location".

"Officers wish to thank members of the public and local community who assisted at scene and for their patience during the road closure," it said.