POLICE “inundated” with reports of car crashes overnight on Friday have urged motorists to drive with slippery and icy conditions in mind.

Traffic officers policing the North-East’s roads dealt with a number of collisions across County Durham and Cleveland, including a serious incident in the early hours of Saturday morning involving a van and a car.

Yarm Back Lane, in Stockton, was closed throughout the night after the drivers of a Nissan van and a Vauxhall Astra were taken to hospital following the crash near the A66.

Officers from Cleveland and Durham Road Policing Unit (RPU) used social media to warn drivers of the dangers of travelling in wintery conditions.

A post on the unit’s Facebook page stated: “We've been inundated with reports of collisions tonight, including one involving serious injury – please go steady on the roads today, there's ice across the county and the roads are slippery.

“Don't be tempted to leave your vehicle unattended whilst de-icing, an opportunist thief won't think twice about driving away in your pride and joy.”

In the Cleveland area, two short pursuits were also undertaken by RPU officers, as well as suspected drink drivers being stopped and a number of vehicle seizures.