A 47-YEAR-OLD tractor driver was flown to hospital with serious head and back injuries after a collision with a car on the A66.

The collision happened on the east-bound carriageway near North Stainmore just after 1pm.

The road was closed in both directions to allow police, paramedics and highways staff to attend.

The tractor driver was treated by the Great North Air Ambulance Service trauma team and North East Ambulance Service paramedics before being transferred to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesborough by the GNAAS' Guardian of the North.

The car driver was treated on scene for minor injuries and did not attend hospital.