AN 87-year-old woman has died following a four-vehicle rush hour smash in which her car ended up on its roof.

The collision took place in Ripon, North Yorkshire, at about 5.30pm, on Thursday.

The woman, who has not been identified, was driving her blue Nissan Micra towards Dishforth, when it was in collision with three vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.

She suffered serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The incident took place in Dishforth Road, in Sharow, on the outskirts of the city.

Fire crews, paramedics and police officers attended the scene and the road was closed for several hours while an investigation into the accident got under way.

It re-opened to traffic at about 11.35pm.

Police have not released any information about the other vehicles involved in the collision.

A spokesman said one woman driver suffered minor injuries.

No one else was injured, said a spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Police are keen for anyone who was travelling along Dishforth Road, at or around the time of the collision, to contact them with any information that could help the investigation.

Traffic Constable Andy Macleod, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "It is vital that anyone who witnessed the collision or was on the road at the time gets in touch with the police as soon as possible.

"It is believed that there was a line of traffic travelling towards Sharow at the time of the incident.

"Anyone who was in that line of traffic could hold information vital to the investigation and I would urge them to contact me."

Anyone with any information that could help the police with their enquires is urged to contact TC Macleod, the Harrogate road policing group, on 0845-60-60-24-7, quoting reference number 12110002948.