Three men were taken to North Tees Hospital in Stockton today after a tanker leaked sulphuric acid onto the A19.

Police shut off the southbound carriageway of the road, near to the Wynyard A689 turn-off, at about 11.15am and diverted traffic onto the A689 and the old A19.

The driver of the tanker and two motorists who were behind the vehicle when the spillage occurred were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. The road was reopen by 1pm.