UPDATED 10.05am Five people including one who is seriously injured have been taken to hospital after a crash in Christchurch this morning.

St John Ambulance tweeted the accident happened in Dawson and Jones Rds at 8.20am.

Three ambulances were needed to ferry to the injured to Christchurch Hospital.

One was in a serious condition and four other people were suffering from moderate injuries.

A police spokeswoman said the accident involved two cars in Templeton.

One car had five people travelling inside.

The driver of that vehicle was seriously injured but the driver of the second car escaped without injury.