Pic: driver airlifted to hospital after A1M smash

A Great North Air Ambulance helicopter on the A1M at Chester-le-Street

This is the scene at an accident in which a driver had to be cut free from his car.

This picture, from the Great North Air Ambulance Service, shows its helicopter at the scene of the accident on the northbound A1M between the Carrville and Chester-le-Street junctions yesterday.

Heavy spells of rain and some snow showers had fallen earlier in the day.

The Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) were called to assist a road ambulance at the scene at 11.35am.

A 59-year-old driver was cut free rom his vehicle before being flown to Newcastle’s RVI hospital with suspected head and chest injuries.

A GNAA spokesman said: “The Great North Air Ambulance was called to assist North East Ambulance with a road traffic collision this morning (Saturday) A male driver was cut free from his vehicle and following an assessment by our Trauma Doctor and after some pain relief, he was flown to the RVI in Newcastle with suspected head and chest injuries.

Highways England tweeted earlier: "#A1(M) J62-J63 north of #Durham now blocked northbound only.

"Southbound open again. #Airambulance on scene due to collision. Expect delays."