A DRIVER suffered horrific burns in a crash between two lorries on the A1(M) in the region yesterday.

The man was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital for treatment to burns to his face, chest and back. A second man suffered slight burns to his wrists.

Last night, police said the accident appeared to happen when two heavy goods vehicles collided on the southbound carriageway of the A1(M), between Bowburn and Bradbury, in County Durham.

Three fire engines were called after passing motorists reported seeing flames coming from one of the lorries, after the crash at 3.40pm.

Police closed the motorway at junction 61, at Bowburn, diverting drivers heading south on to the A177 towards Sedgefield, before they rejoined the motorway at Bradbury.

The A1(M) southbound remained closed for some time last night, to allow accident investigators to move in, and the wreckage to be removed.

The accident had a knock-on effect on rush-hour traffic ten miles away in Durham.

As traffic built up on the A1(M), police also closed the southbound junction at Carrville, causing long tailbacks on the A690 heading out of the city.

As queues continued to grow, the traffic stretched as far as Chester-le-Street, 16 miles from the scene.