AN MP has called on the Government to carry out a review on a busy trunk route through the region which has become an accident blackspot.

Easington MP Grahame Morris has raised concerns in Parliament about the increasing number of collisions on the A19, where hundreds of crashes recorded every year.

Initial statistics show that during 2016 there were around 36 collisions involving 88 vehicles, causing 71 injuries, with six of those smashes classed as serious between the Wolviston interchange and Testo’s roundabout at Boldon.

The year before there were three deaths on the road, 41 serious crashes and 275 slight, with six of the serious collisions on the section between Boldon and Seaham. Statistics going back to 2011 show there are around 300 collisions along the full stretch of the A19 each year.

The Department for Transport has said the most recent analysis put the cause “driver behaviour” as the primary cause accidents and ministers say it is for police to take action.

Mr Morris said: “Anyone who uses the A19 regularly knows there are frequent delays due to accidents as a part of their commute. “The road is dangerous but the Government have dismissed road safety concerns as a matter for the police only.

“The fact that there are two police forces involved Durham and Northumbria makes a co-ordinate response more difficult. “I have called on the Government to commission a review into the causes of injuries and fatalities at accident blackspots on the A19.

“I hope this review takes place sooner rather than later as delays will risk further loss of life and injury. Gary Ridley, Assistant Chief Officer at Durham Constabulary, said: “The main reason for a reduction relates to the imposition from government funding cuts which has resulted in the force employing fewer officers.

“The force has had to strike a balance between managing with less money and also ensuring adequate officer numbers are allocated to key areas of policing such as traffic officers, response officers, neighbourhood policing and also crime investigation.

“However, in order to minimise the impact of the reduction in officer numbers, we have joined with Cleveland Police to form a combined roads policing unit which has led to greater coverage on our roads. “The force also carries out targeted action in respect of certain activities such as speeding and individuals who use their mobile phone while driving.”