A VAN driver was critically ill last night after his vehicle apparently collided into the back of a lorry on the A1(M) in the early hours of yesterday.

The man, from the Manchester area, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital after the accident, just south of the Burtree interchange, near Darlington, shortly before 4am. He was later transferred to Middlesbrough General Hospital.

Both vehicles were travelling north when the accident happened. The driver of the lorry, a 50-year-old County Durham man, escaped shock-ed, but unhurt. The northbound carriageway was closed for several hours and diversions were put in place.

DurhamPolice have launch-ed an investigation into the cause of the collision and are appealing for information on 0191-3864 929.