A police officer has been taken to hospital in a serious condition following a collision between a police vehicle responding to a call and a car this afternoon.

Emergency services attended the scene at Cowpen Lane in Billingham this afternoon (April 21) following the crash, which took place between a police van and a Range Rover.

The crash took place as the police car was using its blue lights on its way to an emergency call, and the road was closed for a short period of time afterward.

The Northern Echo: Cowpen Lane, Billingham crash.Cowpen Lane, Billingham crash. (Image: JOANNE GRIEVSON)

Two Cleveland Police officers were in the van at the time and were both assessed by paramedics.

One was taken to hospital in a "serious but stable" condition.

The Northern Echo: Cowpen Lane, Billingham crash.Cowpen Lane, Billingham crash. (Image: JOANNE GRIEVSON)

Pictures taken from the scene show the damage sustained to both the range rover and police van.

A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "At 1.35pm on Sunday 21 April a police vehicle was involved in a collision with a Land Rover on Cowpen Lane in Billingham.

The Northern Echo: Cowpen Lane, Billingham crash.Cowpen Lane, Billingham crash. (Image: JOANNE GRIEVSON)

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"The police vehicle was on a blue light call when the collision occurred. Paramedics from North East Ambulance Service attended to the scene and assessed two officers inside the van – one officer has been taken to University Hospital of North Tees in a serious but stable condition.

"The driver of the Land Rover is not believed to have sustained an injury."