Several people are feared dead following a horror crash involving a number of vehicles on the A1 in County Durham.
Footage which appears to have been shot from a bridge overlooking the stretch of debris-strewn motorway shows a lorry engulfed in a fireball.
The HGV smashed through the central reservation before bursting into flames, sending huge plumes of black smoke billowing into the air.
The motorway remains closed between Bowburn and Carville as a major rescue operation involving police, paramedics and firefighters continues.
Durham Constabulary have said ‘there appear to have been fatalities’.
North East Ambulance Service warned patients they could face a delay waiting for an ambulance as medics were extremely busy dealing with the incident.
A Great North Air Ambulance has also landed to help treat ‘multiple casualties’.
A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: ‘Emergency services are currently on the scene of a serious collision on the A1(M).
‘The incident happened at 6.20pm today on the northbound carriageway at Bowburn.
‘It involved several vehicles, including two lorries, one of which caught fire as a result of the collision.
‘Sadly, there appear to have been fatalities.’
The motorway is expected to remain closed in both directions ‘for several hours’ while police, paramedics and firefighters work at the scene.
Officers have appealed for motorists to hand over any dashcam footage of the crash.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We have multiple resources on scene, including our Hazardous Air Response Team, two ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic and three officers, with support from the Great North Air Ambulance to treat multiple casualties alongside police and fire colleagues.
‘Other patients in the area may experience a delay in us reaching them and we urge anyone waiting for an ambulance to please bear with us and not call us back unless your condition worsens in case your call prevents someone who needs our help from getting through.’
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