Police, ambulance and the fire brigade were all called to an accident on The Carrs between Ruswarp and Briggswath on Tuesday night.

The accident involved a green Citroen Saxo and was reported at 4.50pm.

The car was being driven by owner Kim Sutherland, who was carrying her three male friends as passengers.

Miss Sutherland and two of her friends were taken to hospital for a precautionary check on cuts and bruises.

Her other friend was unharmed.

The car had come off the road and ended up on its side.

Miss Sutherland, a hairdresser and part-time waitress, told the Gazette: “I was on my way home from town as my tea is at 5.30pm.

“I was following my friend and was doing about 40mph when a pheasant ran out in front of me and I panicked and started skidding.

“I swerved to avoid it and a couple of pedestrians in the road.”

The eighteen-year-old only passed her driving test in January and weeks later was involved in a collision with an articulated lorry on the road towards Hawsker.

“I was lucky to be alive after that,” she said. “I wrote off my blue Corsa and bought my green Saxo as I need a car to get to work and back as I live in Sleights and work in Whitby.

“My fingers are all cut to shreds and I have got whiplash. I am a very unlucky person – if bad luck happens, it happens to me.”

She added she hoped her friends will get better soon.