A driver was injured when his car left the road and rolled down a 50 metre bank.

The accident happened on Tuesday at 2.05pm, on the A19 southbound, at the bottom of its slip road with the A1231, near Sunderland. The Rover 216 travelling south ploughed through a fence before it rolled down the embankment and came to rest in a field. Firefighters cut free the driver, a man from Jarrow, and paramedics took him to Sunderland Royal Hospital, where he is being treated for serious leg and arm injuries. Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0191-563 6776.

RIVER RESCUE: A man is recovering in hospital after he fell into the River Tyne yesterday. The teenager plunged into the river outside Sea nightclub in Newcastle, at 1.15am. He managed to reach a life belt then climbed out of the water on to a metal pole, but was unable to get up the side of the quay. Firefighters sent down a heat-save blanket to keep him warm, until the fire boat arrived. He was later taken to hospital.

CAR CRASH: Two people were trapped in a car after it left the road, hit a tree and ended up on top of power box. The accident happened at 1.45pm yesterday, in Gibside Way, Dunston, Gateshead. The Nissan Bluebird came to rest on the one metre-high electrical junction box. Firefighters removed the car. The couple declined hospital treatment.

OVERTURNED LORRY: A road was closed yesterday after a lorry overturned on a roundabout spilling diesel as the tank ruptured. The 38-tonne articulated lorry, carrying non-toxic bedding materials, toppled as the driver negotiated the A66/Tees Dock Road roundabout at South Bank, Middlesbrough, at 6.45am. The driver was taken to hospital and treated for minor injuries. Emergency services cleared the 300-litre spillage. Police closed the Tees Dock Road westbound from Wilton Road for several hours causing traffic hold-ups.

GREAVSIE VISIT: One of the finest footballers England has ever produced will be meeting his fans at the Gateshead MetroCentre tomorrow. Football pundit Jimmy Greaves will be in Waterstones, signing copies of his autobiography Greavsie, from 1pm.

SPEED CAMERAS: Figures show speed cameras are flashing motorists in the North-East every six minutes. Statistics gathered by motor insurance specialists Quoteline Direct also show the number of traps in the region is 60 per cent higher than last year. A further eight are to be introduced across Teesside in the coming weeks, taking the number operated by the Cleveland Safety Camera Partnership to 50.