A two-vehicle collision led to traffic chaos on the A1(M) and surrounding roads in County Durham today.

The northbound stretch of the Durham Motorway, between Carrville and Chester-le-Street, junctions 62 and 63, was closed for around five hours after the rush-hour crash involving a skip lorry and a Range Rover car.

Both vehicles were travelling north when the collision occurred, causing the lorry to overturn, in the Great Lumley area, shortly after 8am.

The lorry driver was cut free from the wreckage by firefighters and airlifted by helicopter ambulance to Newcastle General Hospital.

He was said to have arm and head injuries, but they were described as "not serious". The Range Rover driver was also taken to hospital, for precautionary checks, but he was not believed to have suffered any injuries.

Traffic tailbacks quickly developed, stretching back from the accident scene for several miles to beyond the Carrville interchange.

Police closed the section of motorway between Carrville and Chester-le-Street allowing the scene to be cleared, although the task was hindered as the skip's load of scrap was spilt across the carriageway in the accident.

During the period of the closure traffic heading north had to leave the A1(M) at Carrville, and was diverted via the A690, causing knock-on tailbacks in Durham and surrounding area at rush-hour and through the morning.

Police said the stretch from Carrville to Chester-le-Street was fully operational again by 1pm.