A MAN was taken to hospital for a check-up following a crash between a car and van which caused severe delays on the A1(M) southbound at Chester-le-Street in County Durham on Thursday morning.

The Northern Echo:

DELAYS: Traffic is backed up on the A1(M) after a crash between a car and van. Picture: Gavin Engelbrecht

One lane was blocked, causing queueing traffic, at J63 Picktree Lane, Chester-le-Street.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: "We were alerted to an accident on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M) at junction 63 at 7,30am. 

"There were no serious injuries. A van hit the back of a blue Ford Fiesta, which ended up jammed in the central reservation. The van was on the hard shoulder. 

"The outside lane was blocked at first. Both vehicles required full lift recovery. 

"The male driver of the Fiesta, who is not believed to have been seriously hurt, was taken to the University of North Durham for a check-up."

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called at 7.23 to a road traffic accident on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M).

"We dispatched one double-crewed ambulance and transported one patient to the University Hospital of North Durham."