MOTORISTS were caught out by the icy conditions this morning with police called to nine road traffic collisions across the county.

Police have now issued a warning urging drivers to take care on Cumbria’s roads due to the high number of incidents between 7.24am and 10.15am.

Hazards included icy road conditions and one involved a driver failing to remove ice from the vehicle windscreen before starting on their journey.

Among the incidents was a two vehicle collision on Valley Drive, Kendal, which occurred at 9.27am. It involved a Suzuki Ignis and a Volkswagen Transporter.

The driver of the Suzuki, a local woman in her 70s, received injuries not believed to be life changing. The driver of the transporter, a man from Birmingham, was uninjured. The road was blocked whilst emergency services attended the scene.

A Mercedes was also in collision with a wall on Boroughgate, Appleby, at 10.11am. The driver, a local man in his 80s and his passenger were uninjured during the incident.

Steve Minnikin, Cumbria Police's Mobile Support Group Inspector, said: “With winter here and the temperatures around freezing in the mornings, motorists need to drive to the conditions in front of them.

"Hazards such as black ice aren’t always visible and the low sun can present visibility issues. Drivers legally need to make sure their vehicle is road worthy before driving, and driving without a clear windscreen is illegal.
"Plan for icy mornings, set off early to give yourself time to clear your car and drive slower. Our advice is drive to arrive and not take any unnecessary risks.”