A Dalton man is seriously ill in hospital after his car plunged into a field in Lepton overnight.

The 18-year-old driver of the VW Corrado was driving on the A642 from Grange Moor towards Lepton when the car veered off the road crashed through a fence and went into a field.

He was trapped in the vehicle for 30 minutes and had to be freed by firecrews.

The man suffered serious facial and head injuries and was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and later transferred to Leeds General Infirmary from where his condition was said to be "critical" this morning.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident which happened shortly after midnight.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Ray Terry at Huddersfield Road Traffic on 0845 6060606.

The A642 was closed for several hours but re-opened at 7.15am.

More updates to follow later.