A FOUR-YEAR-OLD girl escaped from a two-car smash virtually unhurt last night because she was strapped in her safety seat.

The child was freed from the wreckage by fire fighters following the accident on the B1404 Seaham to Houghton-le-Spring road, near Houghton-le-Spring, at 4.15pm.

A Tyne and Wear Fire Brigade spokesman said the accident happened when a Fiat Brava and a Ford Escort collided as the Ford was overtaking a bus.

Cutting equipment was used to remove the roofs of both cars.

The two drivers suffered multiple injuries and were rushed by air ambulance to hospital. The bus driver escaped uninjured.

A fire brigade spokesman said: "The four-year-old girl was taken to hospital for a precautionary check-up. She appears to be uninjured due to being restrained in her car seat.