MOTORISTS who rushed to help free victims of a crash on the A1M were praised by the emergency services last night.

Firefighters said that it was remarkable more people were not hurt when a lorry careered across the central reservation yesterday afternoon and collided with two cars travelling in the opposite direction.

The accident - which caused major disruption - happened at about 4.15pm just north of the Bradbury interchange, near Sedgefield, County Durham.

It is believed that the southbound lorry swerved across the carriageway to avoid stationary traffic.

Four people were taken to Durham's University Hospital following the accident. Two are being treated for head injuries and two were reported to have been slightly hurt.

One of the victims is thought to have a serious eye injury.

Station officer Dave Turnbull, of County Durham Fire and Rescue, said: "It was a scene of devastation and we had to make an appraisal of what we needed to do quickly.

"We had to make all the vehicles safe and help the people who were already out.

"Those who stopped to help when vehicles were potentially travelling at very high speed around them should be praised for their actions."

Police closed the northbound carriageway following the crash with traffic diverted off the motorway at Bradbury.

Traffic on the southbound carriageway was kept moving, although the outside lane was closed off.

Tailbacks of up to four miles built up in both directions.