POLICE are appealing for witnesses after an accident on the A19 southbound at Billingham on Thursday afternoon.

The crash took place at around 4pm and involved a motorcyclist, a blue Ford Fiesta and a red Honda Civic.

The male motorcyclist, from the Eaglescliffe area, was taken to James Cook University Hospital by air ambulance suffering from leg injuries, internal injuries, a dislocated shoulder and broken ribs.

Police closed the A19 in both directions whilst the air ambulance landed and roads were reopened at around 5.25pm.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact PC Paula Metcalfe-Smith from the Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit on the non-emergency number 101, quoting event number 084492.