A MOTORCYCLIST is seriously-ill in hospital after a smash that caused long delays.

The biker came off his machine at the Scotch Corner roundabout at about 11.45am and long tailbacks formed as emergency services arrived at the scene.

A helicopter from the Great North Air Ambulance was scrambled from Durham Tees Valley airport at 11.50am and arrived at the scene just six minutes later.

The helicopter's medical crew worked with ground ambulance crews to stabilise the patient who was then then flown to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough in a stable condition.

The biker, a man in his 50s from the Blyth area, suffered head, chest, back and leg injuries.