A 46-year-old man has died after a serious crash in Billingham this afternoon (Thursday, March 2), the police have confirmed. 

The two-vehicle collision on Thames Road prompted a huge emergency service response, and closed the road for five hours. 

The police confirmed the driver of a Ford Transit van died from his injuries, with two people in the other vehicle being taken to James Cook University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The two-vehicle collision, which happened at 1.10 pm, with vehicles from Cleveland Fire Brigade, Cleveland Police, North East Ambulance Service, and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) attending.

Read more: Crash on Thames Road in Billingham - two people in hospital

A spokesperson for Cleveland Police said: "The driver of a van involved in a collision on Thames Road in Billingham this afternoon has sadly died.

"The incident between a white Ford Transit van and a beige Citroen C3 happened shortly before 13:15hrs this afternoon, Thursday 2nd March.

"The 46-year-old man driving the Ford Transit died from his injuries.

"The 50-year-old man and the 44-year-old woman in the Citroen were taken to James Cook University Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

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"Our condolences are with the man’s family at this time."

Anyone with information or dashcam footage can contact Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number SE23040115.

The crash closed Thames Road, in Wolviston, for five hours - as debris was cleared away and crash investigators surveyed the scene.