THREE people injured when a car hit a tree on Friday night remain seriously ill in hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident near Stokesley, North Yorkshire.

It left two women, aged 27 and 30, from the Cheshire area with critical injuries and another man, aged 25 and from the local area, with serious injuries.

All three are being treated in the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

The 25-year-old driver, from the local area, was also badly injured, but has been released from hospital.

The accident happened on Faceby Road, between the villages of Carlton-in-Cleveland and Faceby at about 11pm on Friday (May 31).

Police want to hear from anyone who saw the dark coloured Volkswagen Polo in the area prior to 11pm.

They would also like to hear from anyone who saw the two men, with visible injuries, walking along Faceby Road towards Carlton-in-Cleveland at about 11pm.

Traffic Sergeant Julian Pearson of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “It’s vital that we know exactly what happened before the crash and afterwards.

“It happened on a quiet rural road and we need every possible witness to come forward to enable us to piece together the sequence of events.

“Did you see the car leave a pub or restaurant, or see it travelling in the area prior to 11pm? Did you see or hear the crash or see two men walking along Faceby Road late at night?

“We urge anyone, even if you believe it’s insignificant information, to please contact us as even the smallest piece of detail could greatly assist our investigation.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or email information to tony.leonard@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk