This is the scene that devastated a family just days before Christmas.

A seven-year-old child and a 40-year-old woman were killed in a head-on collision between two cars on the A169 at Sleights at the junction with the A171 to Whitby.

A five-year-old child and a baby travelling in the same White Nissan Micra were also seriously injured in the crash at 3.30pm yesterday afternoon.

The child is critically injured in Scarborough General Hospital after being thrown through the sunroof of the car. The baby, believed to be one year old, suffered head and internal injuries in the collision.

The deceased woman is believed to be a relative of one or more of the children and was thought to be driving the youngsters on behalf of the mother. Police believe the mother works in the Whitby area.

A middle-aged woman, the only occupant of a red Vauxhall Corsa, fractured her knee in the crash and also suffered internal and head injuries.

Three ambulances attended the accident as did two paramedics and a local GP.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: "At any time of year it is a tragedy but at Christmas it is terrible."

Two fire engines attended the scene with firefighters releasing the two women trapped in their cars.

The road was closed following the accident and diversions were put in place.