A TWO-YEAR-OLD girl from Embsay was killed and her sister seriously injured in a pre-Christmas tragedy on Monday evening.

Robyn Lloyd was in a Peugeot car driven by her father, Jonathan, 35, involved in a three car collision near the turn-off to Embsay. She had been removed from the wreckage by the time firefighters arrived but later died in Airedale Hospital, Steeton.

A German woman, staying with a family in Skipton, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was released on bail.

She was driving a German-registered Opel Corsa.

The victim's six-year-old sister, Christi, was freed from the car by firefighters using cutting equipment and was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with chest and head injuries. She is said to be in a "poorly" condition.

A four-year-old brother, Thomas, and Mr Lloyd were treated at Airedale Hospital but their injuries are not thought to be serious. The man was treated for ankle injuries and the boy for ankle and head injuries.

The crash happened at 5.45pm between Skipton and Bolton Abbey, at the junction with the Halton East and Embsay road.

It involved three vehicles - a dark coloured Peugeot 106 carrying the family, and a blue Opel Corsa, both travelling towards Skipton, and a silver Vauxhall Tigra, heading towards Harrogate. The Opel was carrying the woman driver and a man, who were both said to be "shocked", but declined hospital treatment.

A police spokesman said: "Despite the excellent work of fire service personnel, who released several children who were trapped in one of the vehicles, a two-year-old girl later died."

Police want to speak to anyone who witnessed the crash, or saw any of the vehicles involved prior to the accident. In particular, officers are trying to trace the driver of a large vehicle, possibly a HGV and possibly red in colour, which drove past the scene immediately after the crash.

Anyone with information should contact TC Andy Bell via the witness line, tel 01423 539474.