SIX people, including two children, have been taken to hospital suffering a range of injuries after a crash just outside Station Town in east Durham.

A Durham Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called at 11am today to reports of a collision between two vehicles on the B1280, at Station Town.

“A Citroen Picasso was travelling north and Volkswagen Passat in the opposite direction when for an unknown reason the two cars collided.

"The driver of the Citroen, an 80-year-old man, suffered a suspected broken leg. His front passenger was also hurt. Her injuries are not believed to be serious. 

"The 27-year-old woman driver of the Passat was injured, while a 56-year-old woman, who was her front seat passenger suffered minor injuries.

"A four-year-old girl, who was a back-seat passenger, had minor injuries, while a two-year-old-girl, also a back-seat passenger is believed be suffering from suspected concussion.”

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We received the call at 11.04am to a road traffic collision on the B1280 at Rodridge Lane, Station Town.

"The incident involved two cars carrying four adults and two children.

“All patients were taken by ambulance to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. The patients suffered a range of injuries, including leg, back, shoulder and abdominal."

The accident was attended by the Great North Air Ambulance, which did not transport any of the patients.

Also in attendance were five double-crewed ambulances, one rapid response parademic, two vehicles from the service's Hazardous Area Response Team and a trauma car. A senior clinical care manager attended to supervise the scene. 

A spokesperson for the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service said three fire engines were in attendance.

The road was closed in both directions for several hours, but has since reopened.