A crash involving a number of police cars has closed part of the A1 in Newcastle.

Five people were taken to hospital following the collision, which happened just before 02:30 BST, the North East Ambulance Services (NEAS) said.

Pictures from the scene show four marked police vehicles badly damaged – one with its roof ripped off – and a car on its side, with debris scattered across the northbound carriageway near Denton Burn.

The road between junction 73 and 75 is expected to remain shut until the afternoon while an investigation is carried out, National Highways said, and diversions are in place.

One resident described the scene as “absolute carnage”.

He said: “You could hear a helicopter through the night, it was very strange, I knew something big had happened as I’ve been stuck in the traffic.”

At the scene, BBC Look North reporter Mark Denten said an “extensively damaged” black 4×4 was on its side and debris could be seen scattered across the road.

Four police cars could also be seen, he said, with one a few metres down the road appearing to be the most severely damaged.

Another resident said she was in “disbelief” at seeing what had happened.

“I live round the corner and at 3am all we could hear was helicopters going around,” she said.

“I came down to see the crash this morning and I’m shock, disbelief, I just hope everyone’s OK.”

NEAS said it had sent five crews, a specialist paramedic, a duty officer and two crews from its Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service said it sent five appliances from across Newcastle and crews left the scene just before 04:00.

The crash hit the morning rush hour with motorists forced to find alternative routes over the River Tyne. It led to 30-to-40 minute queues over the Redheugh Bridge and about 40-minute delays through the Tyne Tunnel.

Drivers have been advised to find alternative routes if possible.

Additional reporting by Rebecca O’Neill and Andy Watson.