TWO people were taken to hospital after a three-vehicle crash on the A1(M) near Durham.

The northbound carriageway of the motorway was partially blocked to the north of junction 62 at Carrville. 

The crash happened at about 1pm, about a mile north of junction 62 and involved two lorries and a car. 

A spokeswoman for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said two people had been taken to the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND).

Highways England say both lanes of the motorway have now reopened.

An NEAS spokesman said: "We received a call just before five past one this afternoon to a road traffic collision involving two lorries and a car, between Carrville and Chester-le-Street.

"We dispatched two double-crew ambulances, two Hazardous Area Response Team vehicles and a clinical care manager."

A police spokesperson said: "Police were called to a three vehicle collision just before 1pm this afternoon  at junction 62, northbound of the A1(M).

"Officers are joined by colleagues from ambulance and fire.

Firefighters from County Durham and Darlington Fire Service were also on the scene.