A BROKEN-down bus caused rush hour chaos in Teesside this morning.

Reports suggested the A66 eastbound was gridlocked for over five miles at one point, from Middlesbrough back to the Long Newton turn-off.

The bus was cleared off the road at about 9.15am and traffic was flowing freely again by 10am.

However, a crash on the A19 at 9am, close to the second Billingham junction, meant traffic on the southbound carriageway going into Teesside ground to a halt. Police had to direct traffic off the A19 until the road was cleared.