TWO elderly women were taken to hospital suffering from neck and back injuries after their car skidded in heavy rain and hit an oncoming vehicle on the A19 near Crathorne, North Yorkshire.

The accident left four casualties suffering minor injuries and police were forced to close part of the road for more than an hour while firefighters attended the scene.

Three ambulances were called to the scene and all four people were taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital just after 3pm on Saturday, before being released in the evening.

Firefighters from North Ormesby Fire Station were called to the crash after a member of the public called 999.

Accident investigators said last night that heavy rain was the probable cause of the accident, in which Vauxhall Vectra skidded across the dual carriageway and collided with an oncoming car.

Station Officer David Coates, of North Ormesby fire station, said: "It appears that the wet conditions caused one of the cars to skid across the A19 and collide with another vehicle as it was turning on to a slip road near Crathorne.

"All those involved suffered minor injuries and they were taken to hospital as soon as possible."