THREE people have been airlifted to hospital after a serious two vehicle collision on the A685 at Kirkby Stephen.

At approximately 11.45am today (December 22) police received a report of a road traffic collision one mile south of Kirkby Stephen.

Cumbria police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue service and the North West Ambulance service attended the scene.

The Great North Air Ambulance also attended. The drivers of both vehicles were airlifted to the James Cook hospital in Middleborough, as was a passenger from one of the vehicles.

The road was closed for almost three hours with traffic affected in both directions between the Station Road junction and the A683 junction.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact PC 1442 of the Road Policing Unit on 101.