A person was taken to hospital after two cars crashed on a busy sliproad onto the A1(M) in County Durham causing significant traffic disruption this morning.

Emergency services were alerted to the crash on the southbound sliproad of the A1(M) at Chester-le-Street, shortly before 11am on Thursday (August 22). 

Paramedics treated one person at the scene before taking them to hospital, while another patient made their own way to hospital for treatment.

The road was closed for about two hours while the scene was cleared. Traffic was moving freely again by 1pm.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: "At approximately 10:50am this morning, police were alerted to a two-car collision on the southbound slip road from the A1(M) at Junction 63, near Chester-le-Street.

"The collision involved a Suzuki Swift and a Honda Civic. Thankfully, no-one suffered serious injuries in the crash, although there was significant traffic disruption as a result and a motorway sign was damaged.

"Both vehicles were moved off the carriageway and the road is now clear."

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A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We received a call at 10.51am this morning (Thursday 22 August) to reports of a road traffic incident on the A1 southbound slip road in Cherry Banks, Chester-le-Street.

"We dispatched an ambulance crew and a rapid response paramedic to the scene. One patient was transported to the University Hospital of North Durham for further treatment, and another patient made their own way to hospital and did not require our services."