Seven people, including a mother and her two young sons, were taken to hospital after a stolen van smashed head-on into their family saloon, police said today.

The small Peugeot 205 van, driven by a 16-year-old boy, went out of control on the brow of a hill and hit the family's VW Golf.

The 36-year-old woman driver of the VW Golf, from Whitburn, South Tyneside, suffered severe injuries and underwent emergency surgery after the accident on Lizard Lane, Whitburn, on Sunday afternoon.

Her two sons aged seven and 11, were also taken to South Tyneside General Hospital.

The younger child was released after treatment for a broken rib but the older child was detained for treatment for rib and collarbone fractures.

The driver of the stolen Peugeot was taken to Newcastle General Hospital, where his injuries are not life threatening. Three other males in the car, aged 17, 20 and 21, needed treatment at South Tyneside General Hospital for injuries ranging from a broken hip to a neck injury.

All four in the stolen car were from the South Tyneside area.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: ''A report was received of a serious injury collision involving two vehicles, one of which was a stolen vehicle.

''The collision occurred when the Peugeot travelling on Lizard Lane, apparently at speed, approached the brow of a hill.

''For reasons yet to be established it's gone out of control and collided head-on with the other vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.''