A LITTER-PICKER at work on the A1 was hit by his own vehicle when a car ran into the back of it, say police.

Police said a red Vauxhall Astra collided with the rear of the tipper truck which was parked on the hard shoulder of the northbound carriageway near Junction 61, the Bowburn interchange in County Durham.

The man was carrying out work for Highways England when he was struck by the tipper truck at about 9am on Thursday (May 4).

A spokesperson for Durham Police said he was not seriously hurt.

The female driver of the Vauxhall had to be cut free by firefighters but was not seriously injured.

She was travelling in the vehicle with a small dog, which was uninjured but nipped a paramedic, according to police.

On Twitter Durham RPU posted an image of the crash scene and the dog and said: "No serious injuries, but a passenger is angry!"

The carriageway was closed while the authorities dealt with the incident.

The closure caused long delays for commuters on the busy stretch.

It reopened at 10.45am.