A MOTHER was fighting for her life last night following a crash that also left her baby with life-threatening injuries.

The collision between two cars left two other people seriously injured and blocked the Selby bypass for hours.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance was mobilised along with several other crews from all three emergency services to deal with the injured and the aftermath of the crash.

The woman and her small child, believed to be about 18 months old, were travelling along the A63 near Selby Golf Club with a male companion when their car collided with another car in the westbound carriageway. All three were injured, as was a man in the second car.

Police have not released details of any of the four people. One of the injured was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary.

When The Press went to print, the mother was critically ill in the same hospital.

One of the cars completely overturned in the collision, which happened at about 4.20pm.

Police shut the road throughout the rush hour and late into the evening, as accident investigators examined the scene and the two vehicles were recovered. Neither of the two injured men is believed to have life-threatening injuries.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service sent two ambulances with paramedics as well as a rapid response unit and an officer.

Traffic built up on the diversion through Selby town centre, causing long tail backs during the evening rush hour.

Vehicles were diverted via Leeds Road, Gowthorpe, Brook Street and Doncaster Road throughout the evening with heavy traffic reported in both directions.