One person has been taken to hospital following a three-vehicle crash near Barnard Castle. 

Police and paramedics were called to the eastbound carriageway of the A66 at Cross Lanes after the incident around 7.45am on Wednesday. The road was closed off by police for several hours, with motorists left facing lengthy delays. 

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) sent a double-crewed ambulance to the crash and confirmed that three people were treated and discharged at the scene. One person was then taken to the Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Their current condition is unknown. The force confirmed the road had reopened around 10.20am. 

It said: "Police were called just before 7.45am today to a three-vehicle collision on the eastbound carriageway of the A66 at Cross Lanes, near Barnard Castle.

"One person is believed to have been injured and received treatment at the scene from paramedics. The road was closed while emergency services worked at the scene. It has since reopened."

A NEAS spokeswoman said: “We were called just after 7.50 this morning to a three-vehicle road traffic collision.

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"We dispatched a double-crewed ambulance. Three people were treated and discharged at the scene and one person was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”

A spokesperson from County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service added: “We were called at 7:48am today (Wednesday) to a road traffic collision involving 3 vehicles on the A66 Eastbound, Barnard Castle.

One fire engine from Bishop Auckland, one fire engine from Darlington and the Special Rescue Unit from Bishop Auckland attended. Our crews made the vehicles safe and left the scene at 08:53am”.