A MAN was airlifted hospital this morning after drilling through a 450-volt electricity cable.

The incident occurred in a flat above an Asian restaurant at West Grove in the Westlea area of Seaham, County Durham, at around 9.50am.

The man, in his late 30's, suffered severe electrical burns and was taken to the Royal Victory Infirmary in Newcastle by the Great North Air Ambulance.

Firefighters from Seaham also attended the incident and made sure the area was safe.

A woman had to be freed from the wreckage of her car following a collision in County Durham this afternoon.

The accident occurred at around 12.15pm on the B1198, Shincliffe Lane, at Shincliffe, near Durham City, and involved two cars, a Volvo C30 and a Mini.

The woman, in her late twenties, was freed from the Volvo by firefighters, before being transported to the University Hospital of North Durham by ambulance.

Shincliffe Lane was closed for around 45 minutes.