DRIVERS faced delays after four crashes in 15 minutes on a notorious stretch of road during rush hour this morning.

No-one was injured during the collisions on the A19 in East Durham between 7.30am and 7.45am.

Durham Police has released details of the series of crashes:

7.30am: A two-vehicle collision on the A19 northbound just prior to the A181 turn off involving a Vauxhall Corsa and grey Seat Ibiza. Both vehicles have been recovered.

7.35am: Collision involving two vans and a Mini on the southbound side of the A19 at Easington. One man was been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving. 

7.45am: A two-vehicle collision on the northbound side of the A19 Peterlee, around a third of a mile before Blackhall. The collision involved a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a silver Mercedez. Both cars were recovered.

7.45am: A two-vehicle collision on the northbound side just before the A179 turn off.  It involved a Transit Van and red Seat Ibiza.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary said: “All collisions have been cleared and traffic is returning to normal.”

Earlier this month MPs backed demands for an urgent review into road safety on the A19.

They signed a House of Commons motion calling for measures to improve the road and to ensure police crackdown on dangerous drivers.

Easington MP Grahame Morris tabled a series of Parliamentary questions calling for an inquiry into accidents on the road, which stretches from Doncaster to the junction with the A1 just north of Newcastle.