A NOTORIOUS stretch of County Durham road was the scene of two accidents yesterday morning.

There were no fatalities in the two accidents on the A66, near Barnard Castle, but one man suffered serious leg injuries. The first accident occurred near the Rokeby turn-off, shortly before 8am.

A 33-year-old man, from Lancaster, driving a Ford Escort van, had to be cut from his vehicle after he lost control and collided with a tree.

The man was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital with an open fracture to his leg and broken fingers.

The second accident occurred just after 10am when a Ford Transit van was in collision with a lorry at Cross Lanes junction, about two miles away. There were no injuries and both drivers freed themselves before emergency services arrived.

Both accidents occurred on a single-carriageway stretch of the A66.

Following a campaign spearheaded by the Northern Echo, the A66 is to be upgraded to dual carriageway from Scotch Corner to the Cumbrian border.

Any witnesses to the earlier accident are asked to call PC Barry Moore on 0845 6060365.