Emergency services were called to the A1 following a multi-vehicle crash in Northumberland.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called out at around 2.45pm on Monday following a crash between a tractor towing a hay baler and four cars on the A1 southbound at Shilbottle.

The road was closed in both directions to allow two air ambulances to land on the northbound carriageway, and was fully reopened at around 9pm. Follow updates here.

Here is a glance at what we know so far.

Emergency services at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the A1 at Shilbottle
Emergency services at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the A1 at Shilbottle

What happened?

There was a multi-vehicle crash on the A1 southbound at around 2.45pm on Monday. The collision involved a tractor as well as four other cars.

Read the full story here.

Where did the collision happen?

Huge tailbacks on the A1 following the crash near Shilbottle
Huge tailbacks on the A1 following the crash near Shilbottle

The collision happened near Shilbottle on the A1 southbound between the A1068 (Alnwick South Junction) and A697 (Longhorsley turn off).

Was the road closed?

Yes, in both directions to allow the large scale response from the emergency services to attend. There were considerable tailbacks in both directions as far as Alnwick in the north and Morpeth, to the south.

The road was fully reopened in both directions at around 9pm.

Which emergency services were in attendance?

Police shut the road in both directions while Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service was deployed to help free some of the casualties involved from their vehicles.

Two helicopters from the Great North Air Ambulance were at the scene while the North East Ambulance Service dispatched 10 units to the collision.

Who were injured?

Five people - aged 64, 57, eight, nine and two - were taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.

The North East Ambulance Service and the Great North Air Ambulance originally said three of the casualties, including two children, were airlifted to hospital in a "critical" condition.

However, on Tuesday police described the injuries of the patients as "serious but non-life-threatening".

Were there any diversions in place for drivers?

Southbound traffic was being diverted onto the A1068/B1337 to rejoin the A1 at Morpeth.

Northbound traffic was being diverted on the A697/B6341 to Alnwick.