An elderly woman remains seriously ill in hospital following a crash on the A69 near Brampton yesterday.

The 70-year-old was driving a Peugeot, which was in collision with a Subaru Impreza.

She was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle by ambulance.

Police said she suffered "serious injuries" and remains in hospital.

The crash happened near the A6071 junction at Boothby, just before 3.50pm.

Police closed the busy route for several hours while they dealt with the collision.

The 70-year-old woman, from the north east, was the most seriously hurt.

Her passenger, a 36-year-old woman, was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle with minor injuries.

A section of the road between the A6071 and the Station Road junction remained closed until about 8.30pm.

Emergency services, including the Great North Air Ambulance, were quickly on scene.

Firefighters from Carlisle East and West Fire stations helped free one person from their vehicle and assisted paramedics.

A GNAAS spokeswoman said its paramedic and doctor team worked alongside the North West Ambulance Service to assess and treat a patient before they were taken to the RVI in Newcastle by a NWAS road crew.

Traffic was diverted through Brampton, while others were advised to use the A66 as an alternative route.

Cumbria Police is asking anyone with information to contact 101, quoting log146 of January 18.