EIGHT people were hurt in a four car pile up in a white-out on the A174 last night.

Police said they were called to the incident near to the Greystones roundabout on Teesside at 11.15pm.

It is believed the crash was caused by copper cable being burned-off near the A174. Smoke was blown across the fields onto the road and when combined with the low lying fog in the area, caused a white-out.

Up to four vehicles were then involved in a pile up on the eastbound carriageway.

Vehicles involved included a black Ford Focus, a green Iveco panel van, a blue Ford Mondeo Zetec and a blue Mazda 3TS2.

Four passengers were taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough on spinal boards and there were four walking wounded from the vehicles.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "Remarkably there were no fatalities and none of the injuries are life threatening."