Two people have been taken to hospital after a three vehicle crash closed a busy North Yorkshire road this afternoon.

Emergency services were alerted to the collision on the A171 near Moorsholme, between Whitby and Guisborough shortly after 2.30pm.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were called to the scene near the Jolly Sailor pub, while an air ambulance landed near the North York Moors road.

The A171 was closed between Freebrough Road and Liverton Road. 

Cleveland Fire Brigade confirmed it dispatched four engines to the scene, while two ambulance crews and one clinical team leader from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) also attended.

Two people were taken to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough - their conditions are unknown.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "A road closure is in place on the A171 near the Jolly Sailor pub (between Freebrough Road and Liverton Road) due to an RTC.

"Please use alternative routes and avoid the area. Thank you for your patience."

A spokesperson said earlier: “Cleveland Fire Brigade are currently dealing with a serious road traffic collision on the A171, near the Jolly Sailors, Moorsholm, Saltburn. Road Traffic Collision involving three vehicles.

"Four fire engines are in attendance from Grangetown, Redcar, Saltburn and Stockton. The road is anticipated to be closed for some time as we work with our colleagues from Cleveland Police, North East Ambulance Service and Great North Air Ambulance.

"We would ask you to avoid the area.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic collision today (2 May) shortly after 2:30pm on A171 near Moorsholm in North Yorkshire.

"We dispatched two ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and are being supported by our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service. Two patients were taken to James Cook University Hospital."

A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance Service said: "Our critical care team was activated at 2.57pm to reports of a road traffic collision on the A171 near Scaling Dam.

"We had a doctor and paramedic on board our aircraft and they arrived on scene at 3.13pm.

"Our team worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service to assess and treat a patient and the patient was taken to hospital by road."

The road remains closed.