A DRIVER suffered serious neck and spine injuries after his car left the road and rolled down a 15ft embankment into a tree.

Firefighters had to be cut the driver free from the wreckage of the accident which happened at Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, on Monday morning.

The accident, involving a grey Seat Cordoba car, took place shortly before 6.45am this morning on Front Street.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “The car rolled down a hill and crashed into a tree.

“The driver was cut free by the fire service and was taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from suspected spinal and neck injuries.

“His injuries are believed to be serious, but not life-threatening”.

The road was closed for more than two hours after the accident.