A MAN is seriously ill in hospital after an accident on a notorious North-East road.

The 21-year-old driver received three fractures to his neck after colliding with another car on the A66 at Long Newton, between Stockton and Darlington, on Sunday night.

Police said a Renault Clio was travelling westbound along the A66 at about 5.35pm, when a Ford Fiesta pulled out of the junction at Darlington Road, Long Newton.

The two cars collided and came to rest in the carriageway.

The driver and three passengers in the Clio were not seriously hurt, but the Fiesta driver was taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, where his condition was described as serious, but not life threatening.

The stretch of road past the village of Long Newton has been the scene of numerous fatal and serious injury accidents in recent years.

Residents have campaigned for more than 20 years for the dual carriageway to be made safe and last month work finally got under way.

The £12m project will see a bridge and slip roads built close to the villages of Long Newton and Elton, meaning residents can join the eastbound carriageway without having to cross the westbound side.

Two public inquiries were held before the work, which is being overseen by the Highways Agency, could go ahead. It is expected to be completed by the summer of next year.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to call the Cleveland road policing unit on 01642-301552.