A PEDESTRIAN  is critically ill in hospital after being hit by a car.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident in Pool-In-Wharfedale. 

The 18-year-old woman was taken by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary after the incident involving a black Ford Fiesta ST on the A660 Leeds Road, near to the junction with Old Pool Bank, at about 4.40pm yesterday.

The Fiesta had been travelling towards Bramhope from the direction of Otley when it happened. 

A police spokesman said the driver of the Fiesta, a 22-year-old man from Harrogate, was arrested in connection with the incident and was later released pending further enquiries. 

A 31-year-old man from Ilkley who was a passenger in the Fiesta had minor injuries and was taken to hospital as a precaution. 

Officers have spoken to a number of witnesses but still want to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw the Ford Fiesta, which is believed to have travelled from Ilkley, at any point on its journey to the scene of the collision. 

Contact West Yorkshire Police Major Collision Enquiry Team on 101 quoting log number 1347 of June 22.