Two people have been taken to hospital after a serious crash in County Durham this evening.

Emergency services were called to the B6278 near Barnard Castle shortly before 5.30pm to reports of a road traffic collision.

Three ambulances, three fire crews, police and the air ambulance all attended the scene.

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Fire crews helped to free one casualty from a vehicle and two people were taken to hospital for treatment.

The accident is said to have occurred close to the Marwood Riding Stables on the County Durham B-road, according to local reports.

Police closed the road between Eggleston and the Travellers Rest to allow officers to work at the scene.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to reports of a road traffic collision on the B6278 in Barnard Castle at 5.23pm this evening. We dispatched three ambulance crews and a clinical team leader, and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance Service.

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"One patient was taken to James Cook Hospital and one patient was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital."

Eyewitnesses reported a large emergency service presence with one reporting they had “never seen so many blue lights at one incident”.

A spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington Fire Service added: “It was a road traffic collision involving one motor vehicle. We had three crews in attendance as well as ambulance and police.

“We assisted our partners to release a casualty from the vehicle and they have been handed over to the ambulance service.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Durham Police for further information.

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