AMBULANCES took six people to hospital, three on stretchers, after a three car pile-up on the A1.

The accident happened just after 6pm last night when three cars collided on the A1 southbound close to Bramham crossroads, near Tadcaster.

Four ambulances and three police vehicles attended the accident and an ambulance spokesman said three people had to be taken from the scene on stretchers.

Their injuries were not serious, but included whiplash, shock and neck injuries. All three cars were written off. The road was closed for over an hour-and-a-half as West Yorkshire police cleared the scene. A spokeswoman for the force said the accident involved two Fiat Punto cars, one with four passengers, and a blue Ford Ka.

All the drivers were taken to hospital along with three passengers. Three patients were taken to York District Hospital and three to St James's Hospital in Leeds.

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, February 10, 2001