Huge tailbacks built up after the Transit van overturned, leaving debris and the milk it was carrying on the road, between the A183 and Hylton Bridge.

The two northbound lanes were closed for five hours after the accident, just before 10am yesterday.

Traffic backed up on the A19 and in surrounding areas, including Chester Road and the Washington Highway, as drivers tried to avoid the jams.

The driver of the van suffered minor injuries. No other vehicle was involved.

Police believe the accident was caused by poor weather but are continuing their inquiries.

A fatal accident caused further road closures on the A1(M) near the Bowburn interchange at Durham when a man was killed during a police car chase.

At 5.40am yesterday the driver of a Puegeot 306 suffered fatal injuries when a stolen Mitsibushi L200 pick-up being pursued by police officers crashed across the motorway and landed on his vehicle.

The pick-up driver, a 23-year-old from Chester-le-Street, was taken to University Hospital North Durham. Police hope to question him over the weekend.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has said it will not be investigating Durham police over the incident.

The organisation dispatched a team of investigators to the scene but, after an initial assessment, they found that officers has stuck to set procedures during the chase and the attempted stop of the vehicle.
The IPCC said it was content for Durham police to investigate the incident in-house.

Chief Superintendent Peter Davis has recorded a video statement about the incident on Durham Constabulary's website, www.durham.police.uk, in which he sends his condolences to the dead man's family.

The A1(M) was closed between junctions 62 at Carrville and 61 at Bowburn on the southbound carriageway and junction 60 at Bradbury and 62 at Carrville on the northbound carriageway after the accident.

Both carriageways remained closed for most of yesterday.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Durham Constabulary on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.