The couple had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters.

The man was taken to James Cook Hospital by air ambulance suffering from suspected spinal injuries and the woman, who was driving, was taken by road ambulance as a precaution.

Their injuries are not described as life-threatening.

The accident happened just after 9am on the B1416 at Oakley Bank near Ruswarp yesterday when the red Vauxhall Corsa ended up on its roof.

Two ambulances, two fire engines and the Great North Air Ambulance were all sent to the scene.

The road was expected to be blocked for several hours after the crash and was still closed at time of going to press.

A man who was among the first on the scene said: "The male passenger was hanging out the window with the car on its roof; the window must have been open while they were driving. He was bleeding and he already had a pot on his leg."

The injured man was put on a spinal board before being airlifted to hospital.

Whitby Fire Brigade watch manager Paul Burnett said: "When we arrived on scene the paramedics were treating the casualties so they took the lead.

"Once they were stable we had to use cutting equipment to remove the casualties.

"With the car on its roof it made it a difficult extraction but the way the car was lying on the bank enabled us to get in."

The car was crushed on one side with the driver's side window barely visible.

Mike Moore, location manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, confirmed that the air ambulance had been called as a precaution and both had gone to Middlesbrough.

A spokeswoman for the Great North Air Ambulance said it had taken a 25-year-old male to the hospital just before 10am.

The woman is believed to be from the Billingham area of Teesside.

The road remained closed as at the time of going to press and no other cars were believed to be involved.