Two people are tonight in hospital after a serious crash which sparked a huge emergency response.
Police, fire and ambulance crews were called to Easington Lane near Hetton-le-Hole shortly after 5pm on Wednesday (September 13).
The incident happened on the A182 which runs through the village.
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Photos from the scene show severe damage to a blue car while a white van which appear to have been involved.
Two people were taken to hospital in Sunderland for treatment.
The Northern Echo has contacted Northumbria Police for more information.
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A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We were called to reports of a road traffic collision in Easington Lane at 5.11pm this evening (13 September).
“We dispatched a rapid response paramedic, one ambulance crew, a specialist paramedic and a clinical team leader, and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance Service.
“Two patients were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.”