RADIO DJ Wayne Tunnicliffe has apologised after a naked stunt caused a crash on a busy motorway.

Wayne, 26, a presenter on Metro Radio in Newcastle, bet on air that he would go naked if Big Brother star Craig Philips did not get to number one with the Christmas tune This Time Of Year.

But when Wayne stripped off in the freezing cold at the Angel of the North, on the outskirts of Gateshead, traffic on the A1 came to a standstill.

A snarl up caused by drivers slowing to get a glimpse of what was going on led to an accident involving three cars - a Nissan Micra, a Renault Clio and a BMW. A female driver was taken to hospital with a whiplash injury.

Wayne, who presents the station's Smash Hits show, said: "I can't believe there has been an accident.

"Obviously, it's terrible that this has happened, and I hope everyone is all right, but we did the stunt in good faith.

"There were a lot of drivers honking their horns on the surrounding roads, so it seems to have gone down well with everyone. I don't think the station can be held responsible."

Motorist Teresa Moderate, 25, from Durham City, was involved in the crash and had her Nissan Micra written off.

She said: "I can't believe Metro were so irresponsible to do this at rush hour near a busy road.

"They might have thought it was a bit of fun, but this is ridiculous. The back of my car was smashed in and I have been told the car is a write-off.

"It is lucky that I had just dropped my son off at his nursery, otherwise something awful could have happened.