Car hit by debris from doomed flyover

A vehicle was hit as it was being driven underneath the Gateshead flyover

A roundabout under a doomed flyover has been closed after a driver reported their vehicle was damaged by falling debris.

The A167 Gateshead Highway flyover, which dates back to the 1960s, has been closed since December over fears it could crumble away and it is due to be demolished.

Gateshead Council said the Park Lane roundabout at the junction of the A167 and A184 Felling bypass was shut at 18:00 BST and would remain so until 06:00 BST on Wednesday.

Its engineers will be carrying out an inspection of the structure as a precaution.

It said "a small amount of debris" had been found on the road after it received the report of damage from the driver and that there was a "need to be cautious in checking the edging of the flyover to ensure no repeat of this incident".

Diversions are in place for north and southbound traffic.

Anneliese Hutchinson, strategic director for economy innovation and growth, said the authority apologised to drivers affected, but she added "safety has to come first".

"We have inspected the condition of the flyover on a regular basis throughout the period it has been closed to traffic, just as we did when it was in use - and indeed it was one of those inspections which led to the flyover's closure last December.

"The most recent survey was completed only last month, to check on the condition of the concrete above the Park Lane roundabout, Sunderland Road bus lane and the Bellevue (Five Bridges) Roundabout."

The flyover is due to be demolished as part of £18m works set aside by the Labour-run council.

Work is expected to begin this autumn. It previously carried about 40,000 vehicles a day.

Last month, a skatepark beneath it was also shut down after a survey found "significant areas of concrete were loose".