Busy Sunderland road remains closed after spillage following lorry and car smash

The A1231 Sunderland Highway eastbound, from the B1288 Mill House roundabout to the A182 Washington Highway, was closed at 10am yesterday following a collision between a lorry and a car.

Police officers closed the scene with traffic diverted towards Birtley.

No one is thought to have been injured during the incident.

Work is ongoing this morning to clear the area.

A spokeswoman for Sunderland City Council said: "Motorists are being advised to follow diversions following the closure of the eastbound carriageway of the A1231 between the Mill House roundabout and the A182.

"The road remains closed following a major spill yesterday of a non hazardous by-product of the leather tanning process along a half mile stretch of the carriageway.

"This happened after an hgv spilled its load on the A1231 near the Mill House roundabout at 10am yesterday morning.

"Work to clean up the spill is ongoing with contractors on site this morning."

A police spokesman said yesterday: "At around 10am today we received a report of a two-vehicle collision involving a car and a lorry on the A1231, at the Mill House roundabout.

"Officers are in attendance and traffic is being diverted away from the scene towards Birtley while the road in between the roundabout and the A182 junction is closed for cleaning due to an oil spillage.

"No one is believed to have suffered any major injuries as a result of this incident."