A MAN has been taken to hospital with severe chest injuries after his car left the A1 motorway early this morning.

The man, who was the only occupant of the car, was trapped in his vehicle after it left the southbound carriageway of the motorway near Bradbury, County Durham, at around 7.40am.

He was released using cutting equipment and treated at the scene by a doctor before being taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, by the Great North Air Ambulance, where he is in a stable condition.

Police and paramedics also attended the incident, as well as fire crews from Newton Aycliffe, Sedgefield, Durham and a special rescue unit from Bishop Auckland.