MOTORISTS heading into York from both the north and south suffered delays when a major commuter road was the scene of two accidents.

The first happened at about 8.20am yesterday on the A19, at Shipton-by-Beningbrough, when three vehicles were involved in a collision.

A Vauxhall Astra, Mitsubishi Shogun and a Rover 416 collided, blocking the north-bound carriageway of the road.

The police and ambulance services were called and two of the drivers were taken to York Hospital with minor injuries.

The road was finally cleared at about 10am.

In the second incident, at 8.45am two cars, one of which was a Vauxhall Astra, collided on the A19 at Crockey Hill.

It caused delays for motorists heading north into York.

Two fire engines from York were called to the incident, but their services were not needed.

One woman was reported to be "shaken-up" in the accident while a man was taken to York Hospital suffering what were believed to be minor back injuries. The road was cleared by 9.45am.

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said the fog and ice had caused an increase in accidents across the county with police control room staff reporting an increase in minor bumps and shunts on Thursday night and yesterday morning.

The bad weather is due to continue over the weekend and into next week with heavy rain and gales predicted, mixed in with brighter spells.

There will also be occasional frosts leading to potentially dangerous driving conditions on the area's roads.

North Yorkshire Police driving instructor Dave Goudie has advised motorists driving on slippery roads to corner slowly and accelerate smoothly and gently.

He said drivers going downhill should slow down before approaching the hill and select a low gear at an early stage in the descent.

Generally, people should keep their speed down and try to drive in a high a gear as possible.

He said: "Read the road well ahead, try to predict possible mistakes other drivers may make, but above all be calm and controlled in all you do."