A CHEMICAL tanker crash caused road chaos yesterday.

Firefighters said the collision between a lorry carrying sulphuric acid and titanyl sulphate and a highway maintenance truck, on the A19 in Teesside late on Thursday, was "a potentially nasty incident''.

Crews managed to cut free the trapped driver of the maintenance lorry before he could be affected by leaking chemical. Both drivers were taken to hospital, one with facial inquiries, the other suffering from whiplash.

Recovery of the vehicles and resurfacing of the damaged road on the edge if Thornaby could take until lunchtime today.

During that time the outside lane of the northbound carriageway will be closed. Traffic will be diverted from the A19 north, up to the Mandale interchange slip road, across the interchange and then down the slip road returning on to the A19 north.

The roundabout at the junction of Levick Crescent and Green Lane, Acklam, will be closed as will the westbound flyover of the Mandale Interchange.

Closing the flyover will mean vehicles entering the interchange from the A19 south will not be able to drive west into Thornaby.

Part of the A19 remained closed all day yesterday while a specialist cleaning team moved in.

Firefighters were at the scene for seven hours and 40 personnel were engaged at the height of the operation.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Motorists are asked to be patient and to avoid the area if at all possible.

"Every effort is being made to clear the scene as soon as possible but it's not yet known the full extent of damage caused to the road surface."