AN investigation was under way last night after a police car and a fire engine collided.

Road accident investigation specialists were trying to establish how the emergency vehicles crashed while answering 999 emergency calls.

Police said the marked police car and the fire engine were involved in the crash in Middlesbrough town centre at about 5.50am yesterday.

The front of the police Ford Focus was left a crumpled wreck in the collision at the junction of Borough Road and Linthorpe Road. The fire engine was also badly damaged.

The two-man crew of the patrol car and the driver of the fire engine were taken to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, to be treated for bruises and whiplash before being discharged.

Both vehicles had their blue lights flashing when the accident occurred, and were travelling at speed in response to 999 calls. The fire engine was travelling towards The Mall shopping centre and the police car was travelling north to break up a street brawl.

A police spokesman said: "The police car, a Ford Focus, was answering an emergency call and had its blue light activated as it travelled along Borough Road towards the Crown Pub.

"As they came through the junction, they collided with a fire engine heading towards the Cleveland Centre. It too had its blue lights activated."

The road was closed for two hours as investigators examined the scene.

It is not known if any of those hurt have returned to work.

* Witnesses are asked to call (01642) 303126.