A scooter rider has died in a collision on the A19 this morning.

The accident hapend near Seaham on the southbound carriageway between the A690 and B1404 turnoffs.

The carriageway was closed following the accident until around lunch time.

Northumbria Police are appealing for witnesses to the accident to contact them, in particular an HGV driver who was in the area at the time.

The crash was one of eight accidents on the A19 in County Durham on Friday morning. Police said drivers were going too fast in icy conditions.

A Highways Agency spokeswoman said: "The whole of the A19 was salted last night at 1900 GMT in a two-hour operation.

"At the request of the police, at 0700 GMT this morning the County Durham section was re-treated because of the conditions. It was a quite routine request."