MOTORISTS faced lengthy delays on one of the region's busiest roads when it was closed after a collision between a transit van and a mechanical digger.

Three people were taken to hospital following the accident on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M), near the Washington services, at about 3.20pm yesterday.

The North-East Ambulance Service dispatched its air ambulance, which was called back to base after the injured people were taken to hospital by two ambulances.

All three lanes of the southbound carriageway were closed as emergency services cleared the scene. Traffic tailed back for several miles - at one stage reaching as far as the MetroCentre in Gateshead.

Once the vehicles were removed, police had to keep the road closed for repairs to the damage road.

A police spokesman said: "A pothole was gouged out of the road surface when the JCB overturned.

"Workers from Halcrow were called in to repair the road. One lane was opened shortly before 6pm to ease the congestion, while motorists were advised through radio broadcasts to avoid the area.

"Motorists travelling from the south were warned of the crash through illuminated signs."

The spokesman said work on the road would take a number of hours.

The injured people were taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, where they were treated and discharged.

Police were investigating the cause of the crash last night