AN INCREASE in road traffic collisions saw four separate crashes in the Three Towns over the last few days involving buses, vans and cars.

On Friday, a head-on collision involving two vehicles, one of which was a North Ayrshire Council vehicle, saw Giffin Road closed for a short period as two women were taken to hospital.

Local Fire Resilience Officer, Derek Davidson, said: “Fire crews from Ardrossan and Kilwinning Community Fire Stations attended the incident just after 11am on Friday morning.

“Hydraulic cutting equipment was used to remove the driver’s door from one of the vehicles to allow easier access for fire and ambulance personnel to free one of the casualties.” He added: “Both casualties were the drivers of the respective vehicles and although neither was seriously injured the result could have been so much worse.

"I would urge drivers to take more care, reduce their speed and drive to the road conditions. It could save your life or that of other road users.” On Monday, there were two incidents, the first happening early in the morning at the Sharphill Roundabout at the top of Saltcoats’ Dalry Road.

"Again two vehicles were involved but thankfully nobody was injured but one of the cars was badly damaged.

The third incident happened around 12.30pm on Friday when there was a collision between a single decker bus and a transit van in Stevenston’s Boglemart Street.

This incident left the driver of the van trapped for a period of time and police have said that he was later charged with road traffic offences.

Finally, the Saltcoats to Stevenston bypass was closed for over an hour last night (Tuesday) after a vehicle came off the road due to surface water and debris.

Just before 10pm police officers attended at the scene between Pennyburn and Sharphill Roundabouts where the male driver of the vehicle was out of his car.

He wasn’t injured but the car went down the embankment.

Due to the water and debris, the road remained closed until the officers deemed it safe enough to open.