POLICE are investigating after five people were injured in a two-car collision in County Durham.

A Mercedes CLK and a Rover 75 collided head-on on the B6310 road at Longclose Bank, Medomsley, near Consett, at about 6.40am on Thursday.

The vehicles were about one mile out of Medomsley village on the road to Hamsterley Mill when the collision occurred.

The Rover driver, a 30-year-old man from the Burnhope area, received treatment at the RVI in Newcastle for chest injuries and was later released.

The driver of the Mercedes, a 29-year-old man from Sunderland, has been detained at the University Hospital of North Durham, suffering from leg fractures.

The front seat passenger, a 22-year-old woman from Watford, was also taken to UHND and was released after treatment for leg injuries.

One of the rear seat passengers, a 20-year-old man from Watford, was taken to UHND with minor leg and back injuries, and was also released after treatment. The other rear seat passenger, a 19-year-old Watford man, was released after treatment for a neck injury at the RVI in Newcastle.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “It is believed the Mercedes was travelling north east down Longclose Bank when the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle on a bend in the road.

“The Mercedes collided with the Rover which was heading in the opposite direction.

“All four people in the Mercedes were arrested in connection with the incident.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the vehicles prior to the incident, is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 101.