TWO teenagers are in hospital today recovering from head and chest injuries after a collision last night on the A65.

An 18-year-old male driver and a 15-year-old female passenger were injured after an accident near Millness at Crooklands at around midnight.

The pair were taken to the Royal Preston Hospital by paramedics although their condition has stabilised over night, said police this morning.

Both were in a green Vauxhall Corsa and are said to be from the local area.

The 18-year-old driver was described by police as initially having serious chest and head injuries, while his passenger had serious head injuries.

Police said the incident also involved a 52-year-old woman, also from the Kendal area, who was driving a blue Vauxhall Safira. It is not known if she suffered any injuries.

The accident shut the A65 for nearly five hours and local fire crews and paramedics from the North West Ambulance Service were involved in helping the casualties.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact PC 1470 Davies of South Roads Policing Unit, who is investigating what happened. He can be contacted by calling Cumbria Police on 101.

Police are keen to hear from anyone who saw the collision or the vehicles in the area prior to it happening.

Confidential information can be given by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Elsewhere in the county last night, police had issued an appeal for drivers to be aware of extremely high winds over Shap and the M6.

A number of trees had also come down in high winds along the west coast of Cumbria on the A596 near Maryport, the B5305 at Sedbergham and A595 near Thursby.