A pedestrian has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car on the outskirts of Darlington today (Thursday, December 7). 

Emergency services were alerted to a collision between a pedestrian and vehicle on the A66 at the Blackwell Bridge, to the west of the Reg Vardy roundabout, at about 4.40pm. 

One eye witness said: "There were police at the bridge as I went passed and as I was driving toward Darlington I saw four to five police cars rushing to the scene." 

Paramedics arrived at the scene and treated the pedestrian before taking the patient to hospital. The condition of the pedestrian is not known.

The road was closed in both directions, causing severe traffic tailbacks at rush hour The road remains closed  tonight as police contiue their investigations.

A Durham Police spokesperson said earlier this evening: "Emergency services are at the scene of a collision on Bridge Road, in Darlington.

"The collision, which happened at 4.40pm today at Blackwell Bridge, involved a pedestrian and a vehicle.

"The pedestrian is believed to have suffered injuries as a result of the collision, and paramedics have been called.

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"The road into Darlington from the A66 is currently blocked while officers work at the scene – we would ask that people avoid the area and find an alternative route."

A spokesman for North East Ambulance Service said: " We were called at 17.06 today (December 7) to reports of a collision between a pedestrian and a vehicle on the A66.

"We dispatched a paramedic crew who took one patient to hospital."