A 90-year-old man had to be cut free by firefighters after his car was in collision with a coach on the A64 near York.

The accident, which happened shortly before yesterday's evening rush hour, brought the busy A19 and A64 to a standstill.

A North Yorkshire police spokesman said it was believed that a white Rover 75, being driven by Fred Leeson, of Thornton-le-Dale, joined the A64 from the A19 at the Fulford interchange and drove into the path of a 52-seater Volvo coach heading eastbound.

"The driver of the white Rover was trapped in the vehicle for a short time before being freed by the fire service and taken to York District Hospital by ambulance," he said.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Fire service said crews attended the accident from York, Tadcaster and Acomb fire stations and it took three quarters of an hour to cut the man free.

"We received the call at 4.38pm yesterday evening. On arrival at the scene of the accident, we used cutting equipment to release the man who appeared to be suffering from leg injuries," he said.

"There were five appliances called out to the scene of the accident from the three fire stations involved in the rescue including a pump and rescue pump from York, an emergency tender from Tadcaster and an incident support unit and accompanying pump from Acomb."

The coach driver, John Hills, 49, of Riccall, near Selby, sustained slight leg injuries, but declined hospital attention.

The police spokesman requested any witnesses to the crash, or anyone who saw the Rover at the Fulford interchange, to contact York police on 01904 631321.

Police blocked the slip-road onto the A64 eastbound while emergency services dealt with the accident.

The roundabout was gridlocked and tailbacks on the A64 reached all the way back to the Copmanthorpe traffic lights.

"It was total chaos," said one driver.