A WOMAN has been airlifted to hospital after a serious accident on the A1(M) southbound in North Yorkshire.

The motorway is shut between J49, towards the A168 to Dishforth and J48 and the A168 towards Boroughbridge).

Firefighters and ambulance staff were also been called to the scene near Boroughbridge to help the woman who was trapped in the car, which also had two dogs inside.

Crews removed the roof of the vehicle using hydraulic cutting equipment and took the dogs to a place of safety. 

North Yorkshire Police are managing the incident and traffic is being diverted off at J49 and should follow the route marked out with a black diamond symbol on local road signs.

This will take traffic via the A168 southbound, parallel to the A1(M) to J48 where traffic can rejoin.

Road users intending on using this section of road are advised to allow additional time for their journey and to consider alternative routes.

Police are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to get in touch on 101, select option two and ask for the force control room. State incident number NYP-29072016-0278.