Two police officers are still in hospital after seven were injured in a horrific crash on the A1 motorway. Five police cars were involved in a crash during a pursuit in the early hours of Wednesday (April 9).

Northumbria Police revealed on Thursday that of the seven injured officers two are still in hospital and another has been discharged. Four were already discharged yesterday.

A long stretch of the road was closed in both directions between Swalwell and Denton in the immediate aftermath of the collision.

Officers had tried to stop the driver of a dark grey BMW M Sport in the Whickham area of Gateshead at about 2am over concerns about the way they were driving.

The car drove off and was later seen in the Swalwell area. Specialist officers from the force's roads policing unit got behind the car at 2.25am and a pursuit was authorised. Minutes later five police cars were wrecked, with debris strewn across the road.

A man in his 20s was arrested at the scene. Northumbria Police have since said the driver was released on police bail pending inquiries into causing serious injury by dangerous driving, failing to stop when required, having no insurance and driving without a licence.

A woman, who is also in her 20s, has been released and will face no further action, having been arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting dangerous driving.

But the police said she will face inquiries into possession of class A and class B drugs.