TWO police pursuit car crashes in a matter of days in Bradford are now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

The collisions both resulted in people involved suffering serious injuries.

West Yorkshire Police has voluntarily referred both incidents to the IPCC.

The latest crash on Wednesday night - involved three cars and resulted in four people being trapped by firefighters from Bradford, Odsal and Cleckheaton stations.

It happened on Cutler Heights Lane, at the junction with Fenby Avenue and Holme Wood Road, a few minutes after a blue Volkswagen Golf had failed to stop for police at Thornbury roundabout.

The vehicle was sighted again a short time later in Dick Lane. Officers followed the car for a short distance before it went out of sight.

As officers drove along Cutler Heights Lane moments later, they discovered the Golf had been in collision with a silver Mercedes-Benz and a blue Ford Focus, at its junction with Fenby Avenue and Holme Wood Road.

The 19-year-old man, who was driving the Golf was taken to hospital with serious injuries, while his passenger, a 23-year-old man, suffered facial and leg injuries and was also taken to hospital.

Both remained in hospital last night where they are said to be in a stable condition.

Mark Rogerson, watch commander at Bradford fire station, said the Golf was on its side, with the driver's side door facing up.

He added: "The driver had his feet trapped under the pedals. The passenger was trapped half-in and half-out of the driver's side window."

A 70-year-old woman in the Mercedes suffered a broken wrist, while the driver, a 66-year-old man, received slight injuries. Both were also taken to hospital. Fire crews cut the roof off the car to free them.

The occupant of the Focus, a 30-year-old man, suffered an arm injury but was not trapped in his car.

Sergeant Adrian Newman, of the Western Area Roads Policing Unit, said: "We are investigating the circumstances of what took place and are appealing for anyone who may have seen the collision involving the Golf to contact us.

"We have voluntarily referred this incident to the IPCC and we are working together to establish what happened.

"Anyone who has information is asked to contact Bradford Police on 101."

The other crash on Sunday night saw a red Audi A3 crash into a tree on Harrogate Road, Bradford, after a 16-minute police chase from the Weetwood area of Leeds.

The driver and a passenger suffered serious injuries and were taken to Leeds General Infirmary for treatment. Two other men in the car avoided serious injury.

All four men, aged 18 and 19, were arrested at the scene on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle.

Police have urged witnesses to contact Bradford Police on 101.