A driver has been taken to hospital after a two-car collision closed four lanes of traffic on the A1(M) slip road for an hour on Thursday (June 16).

Emergency services were called to the incident at around 9.20am near junction 63 (Chester-le-Street) southbound on the major County Durham A-road.

Due to the proximity of the collision to the slip road, all four lanes of the roundabout towards Chester-le-Street were closed – with queues of traffic building in the area.

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The road eventually reopened at around 10.15am.

During the crash, one driver was taken to hospital. The condition of the patient is currently unknown.

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 9.21 to a two-vehicle collision on the A1 at Chester-le-Street.

We dispatched a double-crewed ambulance, clinical team leader and rapid response paramedic. One patient was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham.”

A spokesperson for Durham Police added: "Police were called at around 9.20am, this morning (June 16) to reports of a two vehicle collision on the A1M at the J63 roundabout.

"Officers were joined by colleagues from the Fire and Ambulance service at the scene.

"One of the drivers was taken to University Hospital of North Durham as a precaution.

"The road has now reopened." 

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