A notorious County Durham crossroad has been re-opened following a "serious" crash between a lorry and car earlier today that saw one person air lifted to hospital.

Police and emergency services descended upon the B6279 at Kinninvie, near Barnard Castle at around 8.45am on Thursday (May 30), following reports of a crash between the two vehicles. 

Durham Constabulary confirmed they are continuing to investigate the crash - which is understood to have taken place between a car and lorry.

The road was closed at least a mile in all directions around the crash for nearly 11 hours but the closure has now been removed.

No further details of the crash have yet been revealed.

A statement reads: £Police have now stood down from the scene however there is still a partial road closure being managed by Durham Country Council which is from Kinninvie Crossroads towards Barnard Castle."

The North East Ambulance Service earlier confirmed that a person had been airlifted to hospital - but their condition remains unknown.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic collision this morning (30 May) at 8.42am on Billy Lane at Barnard Castle.

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"We dispatched two ambulance crews, one clinical team leader and supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). One patient was taken to hospital by GNAAS."

The particular stretch of road is known as the Kinninvie Crossroads - and over the years has become a notorious spot for traffic incidents.

Just last year, a car ploughed in to a house on the crossroads, devastating the room inside which prompted new safety measures at the site including stop signs, new road markings, a high friction road surface and a new vehicle-activated warning sign with flashlights.