A STRETCH of the A66 near Stockton was closed on Friday after a serious collision.

The main commuter route was shut between Surtees Bridge eastbound to the Mandale interchange at Thornaby on Friday at about 7.15am and was described as serious by police.

At 10am traffic was being diverted through Stockton as investigators remained at the scene, and the road reopened around 11am.

There was also a minor accident involving seven vehicles on the entry slip road near the A135 1825 Way (Surtees Bridge) in the Preston Farm Business Park area.

No-one has been injured in the second collision.

An articulated lorry with significant front end damage was being attended to by recovery crews in a nearby layby.

Traffic had been queuing back as far as Eaglescliffe.