POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an elderly motorist died following a collision on a notorious stretch of dual-carriageway.

The woman was a passenger in a green Ford Fiesta attempting to cross the southbound A1 at the Kirkby Fleetham junction, near Catterick Village, North Yorkshire, at about 12.35pm on Saturday.

The car was in collision with a red Rover 25 travelling south.

The woman, from the Bedale area, was airlifted to James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, where she died a short time later.

The elderly male driver of the Fiesta was taken to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton. His injuries were not known last night.

The driver of the Rover, a 39-year-old man from Hartlepool, suffered chest injuries and was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Police are appealing for witnesses who saw the collision or the vehicles beforehand to come forward.

Anyone with information should call North Yorkshire Police on 0845-60-60-247.

The incident occurred on a stretch of the A1 notorious for serious accidents.

The stretch was due to be upgraded to motorway as part of the A1 Leeming to Barton upgrade, but the work was cancelled by the Government last year.