Crash involving five police cars injures seven officers and shuts A1

Seven officers have been injured and two people arrested after a major crash involving five police cars shut the A1 on Tyneside in both directions.

The officers all had non-life-threatening injuries. Four have been discharged from hospital while two remain in hospital for observation with one being treated for a leg injury, Northumbria Police said.

Two occupants of a BMW M Sport involved in the collision on the northbound section of the A1 near Denton, Newcastle, were uninjured. Police said a man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

A woman, also aged in her 20s, has been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving. Both remain in custody.

Police said officers had tried to stop a car in the Whickham area of Gateshead at around 2am on Wednesday because of concerns over the way it was being driven. The car left the area and a pursuit was authorised when it was sighted at around 2.25am.

Two minutes later the car and five police vehicles were involved in the collision, the force said. Four badly damaged marked police vehicles can be seen in pictures of the pile-up along with a car on its side.

Images also showed debris scattered across the northbound carriageway. One of the police vehicles had its roof torn off.

Crash investigators were sent to the scene. Superintendent Michelle Caisley said: "An investigation is under way to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and ask anyone with information that may assist us to come forward.

"We would also ask people to avoid speculation both online and in the community which could impact the investigation." A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said it sent five ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer, and two hazardous area response team crews to the scene. Five people were taken to hospital "for further treatment" following the early morning crash, the service said.

It also asked the Great North Air Ambulance Service to help and they attended by road. Long after the crash, blue lights continued to flash on an unmarked police car which was crushed against the central reservation barrier.

A police detection dog was sent into a black BMW which was wedged between the marked police cars. By lunchtime, crews had begun removing the damaged vehicles and lifting them on to low loaders.

The A1 will be closed in both directions between junction 73 at Swalwell in Gateshead and junction 75 at Denton into Wednesday afternoon, National Highways said. Local roads, including the A19 to the east of the city, are heavily congested, the agency added.

Read more on Sky News:New theme park to open in UKCharles & Camilla's 20th anniversaryPolice decision 'means more knives in schools' It said the road closure follows a "multi-vehicle collision resulting in serious injuries". "Due to the severity of the collision a full Northumbria Police investigation is under way, and they advise that it will be protracted," it said.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "A section of the road is closed in both directions - there are diversions in place from the Derwenthaugh Road junction northbound, and the A69 roundabout southbound. "Motorists should use alternative routes where possible.".