Police have confirmed that a 27-year-old woman has died in a crash near Carlisle - and two children and a man were flown to hospital.

Officers said there had been a loss of life following the two-car collision on the A689, near to the road's junction with Walby Farm Park, just after 1pm yesterday.

No further details about the woman, who was pronounced dead at the scene, have yet been issued but police say that specialist officers are working with her family.

The injured children and man, believed to be in his fourties, were airlifted by the Great North Air Ambulance service (GNAAS)to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

The doctor-led trauma team treated the man for multiple injuries and the youngsters who had minor injuries. The GNAAS said the man was stable on arrival at hospital.

The road was closed completely closed between the Linstock roundabout and the junction with Brampton for several hours while police carried out an investigation. It has now reopened.

There were at least five ambulances, two rapid response paramedic cars and several police cars, as well as two fire crews, called to the scene.

Police have appealed for witnesses to contact them as soon as possible, calling 101 and quoting log 123 of February 19.