Firefighters had to cut the passenger from the vehicle he was travelling in after a truck and van collided on the A19 southbound carriageway near Dalton Piercy, on the outskirts of Hartlepool.

He was travelling in a Ford Transit van with another man which left the road after being involved in the crash with a DAF heavy goods vehicle at around 5pm yesterday.

The busy carriageway was closed for several hours while emergency services dealt with the smash that caused lengthy tailbacks, which reached up to three miles at one stage.

It happened at the junction to Middle Stotfold Farm, just past Dalton Piercy, and police, firefighters and paramedics attended the scene.

The victim, a 50-year-old man, suffered serious internal injuries and is currently in James Cook University Hospital where his condition was described as stable.

Firefighters encountered two further shunts around the Elwick A19 junctions as they tried to get to the scene.

No-one was injured in either of the other incidents, which each involved two vehicles.

Temporary watch manager at Stranton Fire Station, Kevin Harrison, said: "The Transit van received fairly severe front end damage and the passenger was trapped in his seat because of his injuries.

"We had to cut the door off in order to release the passenger and then stabilised him in conjunction with the paramedics."

He was taken to hospital by a police helicopter which landed at the scene.

Inspector Ian Grunwell, of Cleveland Police, said: "Cleveland Police are appealing for witnesses after a serious collision occurred on the A19 southbound at the Middle Stotfold Farm junction, near Hartlepool.

"At 5pm on Thursday a DAF truck emerged into the southbound carriageway and was in a collision with a Ford Transit van."

Motorists were diverted away from the scene via the A179 Hart Road and through Dalton Piercy.

Witnesses should contact PC Martin Tramner, at the Cleveland Road Policing Unit, on (01642) 301552.