One of the casualties, the woman driver of a black Peugeot 407, was airlifted to North Tees Hospital in Stockton by Yorkshire Air Ambulance following the two-car collision at the junction of the B1415 road Snainton to Yedingham Road with the main street through Ebberston, near the cricket field, at 8.45am on Thursday.

The four men in the other car were also injured, with three taken to Scarborough Hospital and the other to York District Hospital.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: “A blue Peugeot 106 travelling from Snainton to Yedingham was in collision with a black Peugeot 407 travelling in the opposite direction.”

All the victims’ injuries were understood to be serious but not life-threatening.

Two fire crews, from Snainton and Pickering, attended the incident along with police and cut free three people who were trapped in the wreckage.

The road was closed for several hours following the accident while police investigators examined the scene.

The accident came on the day two vital helicopters – from the McDonnell Douglas 902 series – were back in action after being grounded on Monday due to safety fears, leaving Yorkshire Air Ambulance unable to respond to emergencies.

They underwent maintenance checks in Gloucester- shire after concerns were raised following a recent incident involving a London Air Ambulance in Buckingham- shire. It experienced a drop in height due to an internal fan system fault.

It was also reported police 902 helicopters in Germany, France and America had experienced fan belt faults.

Any witnesses to the Ebberston crash should call TC Martin Recchia, of North Yorkshire Police, on 0845 6060247.