TWO people from Penrith have been hospitalised after the air ambulance was scrambled to a road accident.

The incident, involving a car and a van, happened just before 10am this morning, Friday, February 14, on the A686 between Langwathby and Edenhall - approximately five miles east of Penrith.

A female suffered serious head injuries and a male has also been injured but these are described as "minor".

Both were taken to the Cumberland Infirmary, in Carlisle. 

The road has closed for crash investigators - a diversion is in place through Edenhall.

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance said an a Great North Air Ambulance, ambulance and rapid response vehicle were dispatched to the scene after a call-out at 10.02am.

A spokesman for Cumbrian Police said: "Police were called at around 10am today to the report of a two vehicle road traffic collision.

"The incident involved a Citroen DS3 and Morris 6 CWT van.

"The driver of the Morris, a man in his 80s, from Penrith, suffered minor injuries

"A woman passenger in her 70s, from Penrith, in the Morris was taken to Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, by air ambulance with serious injuries.

"The driver of the Citroen was uninjured."

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance confirmed one person was airlifted to hospital.

He added: "We were activated at 10.10am, the incident was not far from our base at Langwathby so it would only have taken a few minutes to get there."

Anyone who witnessed in incident or has dashcam is asked to contact PC 2334 Barry on 101, email 101@cumbria.police.uk

Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting log 53 of the 14 February 2020.