AN AMBULANCE overturned on the A64 near Whitwell-on-the-Hill as freezing temperatures brought black ice to many of the region’s roads.

No patients were on board when the accident happened yesterday morning, but the crew was taken to hospital as a precaution.

A spokeswoman for Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: “At about 3am one of our ambulances overturned on the A64 near Malton.

At the time of the incident the ambulance crew were not responding to an emergency call nor were any patients or passengers on board.

“Our ambulance staff were taken to York Hospital to be checked over as a precautionary measure but later returned to work to complete their shift.

“We will be working closely with the police to help with their inquiries into the cause of the incident but it is thought the icy road conditions will have been a contributing factor.”

Elsewhere, a car ended up on its roof in a field near Stamford Bridge at 2.40am yesterday. The driver was helped from the car by firefighters.

Meanwhile two HGVs were involved in a collision on the northbound M1 at it its junction with the M62.