A WOMAN is fighting for her life while another women has been seriously injured following a two-vehicle crash near Newton Aycliffe.

The drivers of the cars have been taken to hospital after the crash, which happened on the A167, near Newton Aycliffe, shortly before 1pm on Monday.

A police spokesperson said: "A woman is in a critical condition in hospital following a collision earlier today.

"A silver Seat Ibiza and a red Renault Twingo were travelling in opposite directions on the A167 between Central Avenue, in Newton Aycliffe, and the Rushyford roundabout when the collision happened at 12.50pm.

"The 23-year-old driver of the Renault was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with critical injuries.

"A 27-year-old woman who was driving the Seat was also taken to James Cook University Hospital with serious injuries.

A spokesman for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) said one woman was airlifted to hospital while the other was transported by ambulance.

He said: "We received a call at 12.51pm to reports of a two-vehicle crash outside the Gretna Green pub on the A167 near Newton Aycliffe.

"We dispatched two double crewed ambulances, a clinical care ambulance, two air ambulances, two Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART) and a rapid response vehicle.

"There were two female patients. One was airlifted to James Cook Hospital. The other was taken by land ambulance to James Cook." 

Another ambulance, which was passing the scene of the crash, assisted until other paramedics arrived.