Women struck by tractor while walking through town

Two women are still in hospital after they were hit by a tractor while walking through a market town on New Year's Eve.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it was called to the crash on Bridge Street in Helmsley at 12:40 GMT on Wednesday.

One victim was taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough by air ambulance and the other by road.

On Friday North Yorkshire Police said the two women were still receiving treatment and appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

Witnesses said they believed the tractor had mounted the pavement where the women were walking to avoid another vehicle.

An employee at a nearby business, who did not wish to be named, said she had been told the more seriously injured woman had ended up trapped beneath the tractor, which was towing a trailer.

She added: "Bridge Street is still closed. A helicopter came earlier to take a woman to hospital.

"We think a car had pulled up suddenly, which caused a big tractor with a trailer to brake, so it didn't hit the car. I was told it ended up on the footpath."

On 5 January, North Yorkshire Police said no arrests had been made and that the tractor driver was assisting with the investigation.

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