THE A66 has reopened on the outskirts of Darlington after an overturned concrete mixer resulted in it being closed for five hours.

A concrete mixer, van and car were all involved in the incident, which happened just before 10.30am this morning.

The driver of the concrete mixer is understood to have recieved minor injuries and has been taken to hospital as a precaution.

The eastbound carriageway remained closed throughout the day so the recovery of the concrete mixer could take place, and debris could be removed.

A diversion was in place whilst the road was closed.

Six police cars, a fire engine, and two ambulances attended the scene of the incident, according to witnesses.

One witness, who said the driver was "lucky to be alive", said the concrete mixer entered the westbound carriageway from the roundabout and went across the dual carriageway, before overturning in the bushes at the side of the road.

The van then hit the car as it tried to avoid the lorry, according to witnesses.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called at 10.19am this morning to reports of a road traffic collision on the A66 in Darlington.

"We dispatched two double crewed ambulances and transported two patients to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”