A SERIOUS collision involving a lorry resulted in major travel disruption on Wednesday.

The crash led to a large spillage and significant barrier damage.

As a result, the A1 was closed southbound between J56 and J53, near Scotch Corner, while emergency repairs were carried out.

The Northern Echo:

Queues on the A1 after a lorry hit a barrier on the southbound carriageway. Picture: Incidents on Teesside and County Durham

A spokeswoman for Highways England said: “The collision caused extensive damage to the safety barrier and the fuel spillage covered the road.

“The road had to be closed while resurfacing work could be carried out and when this is complete we can replace the safety barrier.

“Traffic had to exit the A1 at another junction and follow diversions towards Middleton Tyas.”

North Yorkshire Police confirmed he sustained a minor cut to his head and was taken to Darlington Hospital for treatment.

One driver who had been in the queue for more than an hour said: "Traffic is completely stacked up all the way to the A66 at Darlington. I saw a tow truck carrying a Yodel HGV on it with all the front end smashed in, although this could be unrelated. Traffic appears to moving very, very slowly."

Another driver said: "Traffic was at a standstill on the A1 and queues were as far back as the Blackwell Grange roundabout on the A66.

"The traffic elsewhere in Darlington was very heavy. I haven't seen traffic disruption to this extent in recent years."

Traffic in Darlington was being affected.

Arriva North-East posted on Facebook: "Darlington area services 3A, 5/5A, 7, 8, X21, X66 and X67.

"Due to an accident on the A1 at Scotch Corner it would appear traffic is trying to divert through Darlington which is causing gridlock on North Road and delaying these services. This will also impact on services in other areas which leave from Darlington."

Fire crews from Richmond and Colburn attended the incident at around 5.30am and removed a door from the lorry, allowing the driver to walk free after it collided with the highways barrier.