POLICE investigating the fourth fatal accident outside a stately home in a decade have appealed for witnesses.

North Yorkshire Police wish to speak to anyone who saw a silver Volkswagen Touran near Castle Howard, near York, on Monday (May 4), before it hit a stone archway at 9.40pm.

North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said firefighters from nearby Malton were called to assist police with hydraulic cutting equipment and airbags at the scene.

Officers said a woman in her 60's, who has yet to be named by police, died after the impact and was the only occupant.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash near the stately home, which attracts 250,000 visitors a year and has been the setting of costume dramas Brideshead Revisited and Death Comes To Pemberley.

The fatal crash follows an inquest in 2008 hearing 42-year-old man died after crashing into a stone gateway at the stately home.

In November 2005, a 43-year-old man died when his 4x4 hit an arch. Three months before that a 23-year-old student was killed when his car crashed into an archway.

Following the crash in 2008, wooden bollards were installed either side of the road passing through the 18th Century Carrmire gate in an attempt to prevent crashes.

Anyone with information about the crash should call police on 101 or email martin.hayes@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk