Two-vehicle crash closes A1 northbound near Washington Services

Emergency services have attended the scene and a motorcyclist has been treated by paramedics. There are no reports of other casualties.

A diversion is in place with traffic being re-routed onto the nearby A194(M), then through Gateshead to rejoin the A1 at junction 66.

A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: “At about 3.15pm police received a report of a collision involving a motorcycle and a car on the A1 northbound near to the junction with Birtley. Emergency services have attended the scene and the A1 is currently closed, with diversions in place to keep traffic moving.

The A1 will be re-opened once the vehicles have been recovered but there is congestion in the area.

"The motorcyclist involved is being treated by paramedics at the scene, but he is not believed to have suffered any life-threatening injuries.

"Nobody else is reported to have been injured.”

A message from the editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

You can subscribe to this website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Simply click ‘Subscribe’ in the menu. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.