A GRANDMOTHER and her young grandson suffered serious injuries in a two-car crash this morning (Wednesday, September 30).

The woman, who is in her 50s, and her four-year-old grandson, who was her only passenger, were rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle following the smash on the A167 between Durham City and Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

The two, who have not been named, were reported to have serious injuries and were being kept in hospital overnight, but it is not thought their injuries are life-threatening.

The woman, from Chester-le-Street, was driving a Ford Ka on the southbound carriageway near the Red Lion pub, Plawsworth, when it collided with a Citroen C3 also travelling south at about 11.50am. The C3 driver was uninjured.

The North East Air Ambulance Service rushed two rapid response vehicles, a hazardous area response team, two ambulances and a cardiac arrest car to the scene.

The road was closed in both directions for some time to allow an air ambulance to land.

However, the northbound carriageway reopened before 1.30pm and the southbound carriageway reopened at 2.45pm.

Durham Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to call its collision investigation unit via the non-emergency number, 101.