A SUSPECTED stolen car caught fire after a collision, leading to four arrests and three people being taken to hospital.

Several suspected joyriders fled the scene of the incident at Apple Orchard Bank in Skelton, east Cleveland, at about 10.25am this morning (Friday) involving a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a silver Ford Fiesta.

Three males aged 19, 23 and 27 were arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs and a 20-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Three of those arrested were taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. The 23-year-old man suffered a head injury, the 19-year-old man was complaining of neck and back pain and the 20-year-old woman was taken in with unspecified injuries.

No one is believed to have suffered any serious injuries.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Fire Brigade said two appliances and the emergency rescue tender from Coulby Newham attended and crews used two hose jets to extinguish the blaze.

“This was to a report of a vehicle well alight. No one was trapped,” she said.

“One casualty was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital by ambulance.”