Eight people have been taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash on the A1 in Northumberland.

Emergency services were alerted to the collision on the southbound carriageway of the A1 at Stannington, between Newcastle and Morpeth, at 12.30pm on Monday.

Paramedics, police officers and firefighters, along with two air ambulances, attended the crash which involvedup to to five vehicles.The Northern Echo:

Five people were taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, while a further three people were taken to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington.

The road remains closed with drivers advised to avoid the area.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: “At 12.30pm today (Monday) we received a report of a multi-vehicle road traffic collision on the A1 southbound near Stannington.

“Emergency services attended the scene and eight people were taken to hospital with injuries. The southbound carriageway remains closed and a diversion is in place.”

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We were called to reports of a multi-vehicle road traffic collision on the A1 near Stannington shortly before 12.30pm today (September 18).

“We dispatched three emergency ambulance crews, two patient transport crews, our full Hazardous Area Response Team, a clinical team leader and an officer, and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance Service.

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"In total, five patients were transported by road to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle and a further three patients were transported by road to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington."

A spokesperson for the Great North Air Ambulance said: “Both our aircraft responded to reports of a serious road traffic collision on the A1 near Stannington.

"Our Teesside-based team responded at 12.39pm, with our Langwathby-based helicopter taking off two minutes later.

"Northumbria Police closed both carriageways, allowing our aircraft to land safely.

"Several vehicles were involved, and our teams treated multiple casualties. Dr Tom and paramedic Ian accompanied a patient to hospital by road ambulance, where they were met by pilot Nigel.

"Our Cumbrian team left the scene in the hands of the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, and both aircraft returned to base."

The A1 southbound remains closed from the B1337 (Morpeth South Turn Off) to Great North Road (Stannington North / Netherton Park Turn Off). The AA reports traffic is coping well. 

The Northern Echo: AA map showing where the collision happenedAA map showing where the collision happened (Image: AA)