NINE people were injured, three of them seriously, in two separate accidents on the North York Moors yesterday.

Two elderly women had to be cut from the wreckage of a Fiat car, which collided head-on with a Renault Clio on the A170, between Pickering and Scarborough.

One had suffered leg and pelvic injuries and the other spinal injuries. They were taken to Scarborough General Hospital for treatment.

A man travelling in the same car was treated for chest injuries and shock, while another man and two children, travelling in the Renault, escaped with cuts and bruises.

Meanwhile, an elderly woman had to be freed from her car after a second collision, minutes later, on the B1257 near Helmsley.

She was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital, along with two people from the other car involved in the accident.

Both roads were closed while the emergency services dealt with the incidents, which happened just after 1.30pm.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance was on stand-by to attend both but was not required to airlift the casualties to hospital.