Pc Neil Gartland, from Sunderland, died when 31 vehicles were involved in separate collisions in fog on Friday night.

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The 38-year-old's car became trapped between two fuel tankers in the initial crash on the southbound carriageway between Peterlee and Wellfield.

Emergency crews spent more than six hours at the scene, where three other drivers had to be cut free from their vehicles.

Pc Gartland, who had served Northumbria Police for eight years, was based in South Tyneside and has been described as an "outstanding and dedicated" front-line officer.

He was off-duty at the time of the crash.

Chief Superintendent Mark Dennett, of Northumbria Police, said: "Neil was an outstanding officer and totally dedicated to serving the public – so much so that he recently fought his way back from injury to continue working as a frontline cop.

"He was immensely popular with all his colleagues, both at South Tyneside and throughout the force.

"Everyone who knew Neil will miss him greatly. My heartfelt sympathies and those of all staff at South Tyneside area command lie with Neil's wife and family."

Shortly afterwards, there were two further crashes involving more than 20 vehicles. Fire crews found "absolute devastation", with a large number of people trapped in vehicles.

Two men were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital. One 47-year-old had abdominal and shoulder injuries while another, aged 50, had head injuries.

Two men in their late teens and two women with children were also taken to Sunderland with minor injuries.

Two men, aged 25 and 27, were taken to the University Hospital of North Tees with back and neck injuries. Ten people were treated at the scene.

As police were dealing with the first incident on the southbound carriageway, a second series of collisions took place on the other side of the road involving 18 vehicles.

Meanwhile, a third crash happened on the Wellfield sliproad involving three vehicles, one of which was a Vauxhall Astra police car on traffic management duties. There were no casualties from the two later crashes.Anyone with information is asked to contact Durham Police on 0345 60 60 365.

l A car flipped on to its side early today in thick fog at the roundabout off the sliproad of the northbound A19 at the junction of the A182 and B1285, just before 1am.

The driver of the Hyundai Getz, a woman in her mid-30s, was trapped in the vehicle. Firefighters from Seaham found members of the public supporting the car to stop it toppling over. The driver was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital with minor injuries.