FOUR people were hurt when the car they were travelling in hurtled 160ft down one of the region's steepest hills.

The four occupants of a Mitsubishi Shogun had to be winched by helicopter to safety from their car after it left the A170 on Sutton Bank, which is between Helmsley and Thirsk, North Yorkshire, on Friday evening.

Police believe the green and gold four- wheel drive vehicle was travelling down Sutton Bank when it failed to negotiate a hairpin bend.

It rolled down the bank and crashed into trees.

A man in his 40s suffered neck injuries and a woman in her late teens had pelvic injuries. They were flown to James Cook Memorial hospital in Middlesbrough.

The other two occupants were taken by ambulance to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton.

None of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

The road was closed for five hours, while police investigated the accident, examined the scene and recovered the vehicle. Witnesses to the incident or anyone who saw the car being driven before the accident are asked to call Sergeant John Clayton, on 0845 6060247.