CRASH victims, heart attack patients and other 999 cases face longer journeys to hospital next weekend when an accident and emergency unit partially closes for 13 hours.

The overnight re-routing of ambulances will happen when Dryburn Hospital, Durham City, is replaced by the city's new University Hospital of North Durham .

During the hand-over, health bosses at the old Dryburn Hospital site will gradually run down its accident and emergency unit between 9pm on Sunday, until the new unit opens at 10am the following day.

Until this process is completed, ambulance crews will be directed to take emergency cases to alternative accident and emergency units at Darlington Memorial Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.

Paul Liversidge, director of accident and emergency services at the North-East Ambulance Service, said Sunday night was probably the quietest time for mercy crews, but patients would face "excess travelling time" to Sunderland, Gateshead or Darlington.

Mr Liversidge said the service would try to put on "two or three" extra 999 crews during the hand-over to provide extra cover. "It will mean that patients will be on ambulances a lot longer," he said.

A spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington Health Authority said Dryburn Hospital's accident unit would not actually close until the new hospital could take over.