SNOW and black ice have caused hazardous conditions for drivers this morning with several roads shut due to crashes.

The A1 is closed after a multi-vehicle accident at Junction 66 at the Bowes Incline, Angel of the North.

Several accidents have also bee reported at Junction 64 and the A195 Western Highway, Washington and the Southbound carriageway was closed at 6.45am. The road re-opened just after 8.30am.

There is queueing traffic for seven miles due to the multi-vehicle accident and congestion on the A1 J68 Routes through Birtley are struggling as people divert.

Meanwhile there are also Northbound delays on the A690 at Houghton Cut, as traffic seems to be diverting towards the A19 to avoid the heavy delays to traffic on the A1(M) Northbound.

One lane is also closed and there is slow traffic due to a crash between three vehicles on A19 Northbound from A1018 - Seaham Grange roundabout, Seaham - to the A690 Durham Road at Herrington Interchange, Herrington Hill.

Northumbria Police are currently dealing with a crash on the A1 around the Felton bypass, in Northumberland. The road is closed in both directions and may be so for some time.

Diversions are in place taking all traffic off on to the A697.

The County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service also advising drivers to take extra care following several crashes on the A1 towards Chester-Le-Street junction because of black ice and slushy roads.

A spokesperson for the service said conditions were particularly bad around A1M, Blind Lane, A693, A167 and A183.

They said: "Better to arrive safely than not at all."

Durham Constabulary are currently at the A692 Junction with the A693 at Brooms, Leadgate, where there has been a two-vehicle crash.

The police and council are working to clear the scene as quickly as possible following the incident which happened just after 8am.