A VAN driver has been arrested after a York woman was killed and another seriously injured in a head-on crash on the A59 at Moor Monkton west of York.

North Yorkshire Police said the women were in a Ford Focus saloon car heading towards Harrogate which collided with a white VW Crafter van heading towards York at about 3.30am today.

"The driver of the Focus, a woman aged in her 60s from York, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics," said a spokesman.

"The front-seat passenger in the Focus, a 71-year-old woman from York, was taken by ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary with serious injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

"The driver of the VW van, a 38-year-old man from Halifax, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving."

The spokesman said the man had been held in custody for questioning but said this afternoon that he had been released under investigation while inquiries continued.

The road was closed in both directions for several hours after the crash, from Pool Lane at Kirk Hammerton to the A1237 York outer ring road, causing major congestion and delays for rush hour commuters.

Police said diversions were managed by the Highways Agency while the emergency services worked at the collision scene and the vehicles were safely recovered. The road re-opened at about 8.30am.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said firefighters used hydraulic cutting gear to free two people from one of the vehicles.

Police have urged witnesses to the collision or anyone who recalled seeing either the white VW van or the white Ford Focus prior to the incident to phone 101, select option 2, and ask for Hamish Halloway, or email hamish.halloway@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk, quoting reference number 12180188425.