A WOMAN is understood to have been hurt after becoming trapped under a van while crossing a road with her shopping.

Emergency services dealt with a serious road traffic collision in Bishop Auckland and closed Cockton Hill Road.

It is understood the incident happened shortly after 5pm near Bishop Auckland Hospital.

Passers-by have told Northern Echo reporter Catherine Priestley, who is at the scene, that the injured woman was an elderly pedestrian.

She said: “I have been told she was carrying her shopping and was crossing the road when she was hit by the van.

“They say she was trapped under the vehicle for a while and had to be freed.

“The police have got a 300 metre stretch of road closed from Escomb Road to just past the hospital.

“Two fire engines have just left and there are at least four police vehicles here.

“People have been told to expect the road to be closed for a couple of hours. The footpaths that run alongside that road have also been closed.”

Last Wednesday, a 72-year-old man was struck by a dark blue Toyota Yaris at about 5.45pm on the same road.

He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital but a spokesman for Durham Constabulary said his injuries were not serious.

The road, which is a main route into the town centre, was closed for about three hours following the collision outside of Cockton Hill Working Mens Club.