Man held after two-vehicle crash on A171

A 19-year-old has been arrested after two men were seriously hurt in a crash on a coastal road in North Yorkshire.

A Citroen Saxo and a blue Ford van were involved in the head-on collision on the A171 at Harwood Dale.

The 18-year-old Saxo driver and a male passenger were trapped in the car and cut free by fire crews before being airlifted to hospital.

The 19-year-old man from Whitby who was driving a third vehicle was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

He remains in police custody.

The Saxo driver and passenger were taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. The exact nature of their injuries have not been released by police, but have been described as serious.

The driver and a passenger of the van were treated at Scarborough General Hospital for minor injuries.

The road was closed in both directions between the Falcon Inn and Salt Pans Road after the crash, but has since reopened.

Witnesses to the crash, which happened at 0840 BST on Tuesday, have been urged to contact North Yorkshire Police.