Two drivers had to be cut out of their cars by firefighters before being rushed to hospital following a serious crash on one of Keighley’s busiest roads.

The incident happened shortly before 2pm on Tuesday in Skipton Road, between its junction with East Avenue and the Beechcliffe roundabout.

The road was closed for a considerable amount of time, causing serious congestion.

An Airedale and North Bradford Police spokesman said the driver of a Nissan Note – a 69-year-old woman – and the 40-year-old male driver of an Audi A4 were freed from their vehicles and taken to hospital by ambulance.

Watch commander Andy Quinn, from Keighley Fire Station, said neither driver had actually been trapped, but had both been complaining of spinal pains.

“Because of the suspected spinal injuries, we erred on the side of caution and took the roofs off both cars to take the drivers out on a long-board,” he said.

Mr Quinn was unable to confirm the extent of their injuries, but a passenger in the Nissan was not hurt.

Three ambulances, an emergency response vehicle and two fire engines were on the scene shortly after the incident (above) with concerned onlookers kept at a distance by a police cordon.

The Nissan came to rest in the northbound lane of the road, while the Audi was partially on the kerb on the opposite side of the road.