A MULTI-VEHICLE accident caused rushhour chaos on a motorway yesterday.

Three vehicles were involved in the crash on the northbound carriageway of the A1, just south of the Washington services, at 4pm.

A police spokesman said: "The collision involved a Renault articulated lorry, a BMW and a Citroen. One man was trapped in the Citroen and had to be released by firefighters using cutting equipment. He was not seriously injured."

A Tyne and Wear fire brigade spokesman said: "One male adult was helped from his car. He was given oxygen before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Gateshead, suffering back and neck injuries."

The accident caused long tailbacks in both directions while emergency services cleared the scene.