A MOTORIST had to be cut free from her car after it and an estate towing a caravan crashed in thick fog on the A19 near York.

Jenny Knowles, 35, of Appleton Roebuck, near York, was released by firefighters and taken to York District Hospital with head, chest and abdominal injuries, where her condition was today said to be serious.

The male driver of the estate car was also taken to YDH suffering from facial cuts.

PC Andrew Langford, of North Yorkshire Police, said the accident happened at 1.15pm yesterday, on the A19 just north of Shipton-by-Beningbrough.

The road was closed for more than an hour as firefighters battled to free the woman.

PC Langford said: "We're anxious to speak to any witnesses to this accident, particularly the driver of a grey car. Visibility was poor at the time because of fog that had descended."

Weather forecasters are predicting that the fog will ease slightly tonight, improving conditions for motorists.

In a separate incident two Harrogate men were seriously injured when the cars they were driving collided head-on.

Christopher Anderson, 23, and Nigel Busfield, 41, were taken to Harrogate District Hospital following the accident on the A658 between Huby and Pool at 7.20pm.

Mr Anderson was driving a grey Vauxhall Nova towards Pool and Mr Busfield was driving a blue Ford Fiesta towards Huby when the collision happened. Mr Busfield had to be cut free from his vehicle by fire crews and both men were taken to the hospital by ambulance with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Police are keen to speak to any witnesses to the collision or anyone who saw either vehicle before the crash.

Witnesses should contact PC Rob Roberts of the Road Policing Group at Harrogate on 01423 539474.

Anyone with information about the A19 accident should contact York police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 11:35 Tuesday, January 08, 2002