A THREE-vehicle accident caused rush-hour problems on the A1(M) in County Durham on Thursday morning.

Two cars and a van were caught up in the collision, just south of junction 63, the Picktree Lane interchange at Chester-le-Street.

The crash initially caused a blockage on lane two of the southbound carriageway, as the recovery operation got underway.

Tailbacks quickly developed on the southbound carriageway back to the A195 turn-off, at Washington, while queues formed on the northbound stretch, between Chester-le-Street and Carrville (junction 62) interchanges, as motorists “rubber-knecked” to view events on the opposite carriageway.

Traffic was temporarily held while the damaged vehicles were moved to the hard-shoulder.

In a statement issued shortly after 9am, Durham Police said: “Officers were called at around 8.15am today, (September 13), to reports of a three-vehicle collision.

“The incident happened between junction 62 and 63 (A1M) Southbound.

“No injuries have been incurred.

“The road has now re-opened.”