A mother and two children were killed today in a horrific pre-Christmas road tragedy. The three were pronounced dead at the scene after a head-on collision on the B1253, between Rudston and Boynton, near Bridlington.

Three people in the other car were all seriously injured. One was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary and the remaining two to Scarborough General Hospital.

A fleet of four ambulances and a motorcycle paramedic rushed to the scene after the smash at about 3.15pm but first on the scene was a non-emergency ambulance that was in the area.

The crew of that vehicle were commended by ambulance bosses last night. "They did an amazing job in what were very difficult circumstances," said a spokesman.

Police closed off the road immediately after the accident as their investigators arrived on the scene and last night it was expected to be reopened at about midnight.