A DRIVER suffered serious injuries after a car crash on New Year's Day.

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly after 5.45am on Monday, January 1, police received a report of a one-vehicle collision on the A696 southbound slip road near Capheaton, in Northumberland.

"It was reported that, for reasons yet to be established, a Vauxhall Corsa car had come off the road.

"Emergency services attended the scene and the male driver of the vehicle, aged 19, was taken to hospital with serious injuries to his upper body which are not believed to be life-threatening."

A female passenger, aged 18, was treated at the scene.

"The northbound and southbound carriageways of the A69 were closed for a number of hours to allow for recovery of the vehicle and later re-opened."