ONE of the main routes out of Hexham will close this evening to allow the lorry which overturned earlier today to be recovered.

From 6.30pm both lanes of the eastbound A69 out of Hexham will be closed to traffic.

The closure is to allow for the complex recovery of an HGV which overturned there this afternoon.

The Port of Tyne lorry will have to be put upright before it can be recovered and a stretch of safety fence damaged in the incident will be repaired.

Highways England is working with Northumbria Police to clear the road and say it will be re-opened as soon as it is safe to do so.

During the closure, traffic will be diverted via Acomb, the Military Road and the A68 and can rejoin the A69 at Stagshaw.

One of the two lanes of the affected carriageway has been closed since the incident which took place at around 2.20pm today.

An HGV had overturned onto eastbound carriageway of the A69, at the Bridge End roundabout at Hexham.

Fire and rescue teams and paramedics all attended the scene alongside police who directed traffic.

The Great North Air Ambulance helicopter was also called out but the injured driver of the lorry was taken to hospital by road.