A man has been arrested after a five-vehicle motorway crash which killed a four-year-old girl, police said.

The collision happened at around 12.30am today on the M6 southbound, between junctions 4a and 4.

A spokesman for the Central Motorway Police Group said a 63-year-old man from Sunderland was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He is currently in police custody helping officers with their enquiries.

Seven ambulances, four fire engines, police the Highways Agency attended the incident and the stretch of road between the two junctions was closed for around six and a half hours.

A spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "Ambulance crews arrived to find a lorry and several cars that had been in a serious crash.

"A child travelling in one car had suffered multiple serious injuries and was receiving CPR from members of the fire service. "Ambulance crews and the BASICS Doctor took over resuscitation attempts of the girl and carried out advanced life support at the scene.

"Emergency treatment continued in the ambulance on route to hospital where a trauma team were on standby.

"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of everyone at the scene, ambulance and hospital staff, nothing could be done to save the girl and she was confirmed dead shortly after arriving at hospital."

The spokesman added: "A second girl travelling in the same car, believed to be around eight years old, suffered multiple injuries and received emergency treatment at the scene.

"A woman also travelling in the car suffered head injuries.

"Both patients were transferred by ambulances on blue lights and sirens to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, who had been alerted to their arrival.

"A third child travelling in the same car, a girl believed to be around four years old, suffered minor injuries and was also treated at the scene.

"She was also transferred by ambulance to the same hospital.

"A man travelling in the car was checked over at the scene but was not injured. He travelled into the hospital with the seriously injured woman."

The family of the girl, who was from Birmingham, are receiving support from specially trained officers.

A man and a woman travelling in a second car received multiple minor injuries and were transferred to Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham. Two other people, a man and a woman who were in a third car involved in the crash, were checked by ambulance crews but did not need hospital treatment.

The male driver of the lorry was uninjured.

Any witness to the collision are urged to contact CMPG on 0121 626 1285.