A COMBINATION of bright winter sunlight and frost may have contributed to a morning of chaos on a South Lakeland road, reports Ruth Lythe.

The morning rush hour on Friday (November 18) saw three separate two-vehicle pile-ups on the A590 at Plantation Bridge Hill between Windermere and Kendal at virtually the same time - 8.30am.

Cumbria Police spokesman Harry Macdonald said that vision on the road had been difficult because of the low winter sun although no one was badly injured in the incidents.

The first accident involved a green Ford Escort driven by a 26-year-old woman from Windermere and a silver Skoda, driven by a 52-year-old woman from Bowness.

The next accident involved a Vauxhall Corsa driven by a 35-year-old man from Staveley and a Vauxhall Corsa driven by a 41-year-old woman from Staveley.

The third accident involved a Mercedes sprinter driven by a 47-year-old man from Staveley and a Ford Escort driven by a 57-yearold man from Kendal who suffered whiplash injuries and was taken to Westmorland General Hospital.

Cumbria Police spokesman Harry Macdonald said that the bright sunshine making it difficult for motorists to see as they climbed the hillside might well have been a factor.

"Motorists should certainly be vigilant when driving in that area, especially in the bright winter sunshine and frost that you get at that time of the morning," he said.