A MAN who was airlifted to hospital after he was hit by a construction vehicle at around lunchtime on Thursday has sustained 'potentially life-changing injuries'.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the incident on Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe, just before noon.

A number of police officers and the North East Ambulance Service attended and treated the injured person.

A Great North Air Ambulance Service helicopter was subsequently deployed from Teesside International Airport and landed on a grassed area in Armstrong Close, before transporting the patient to hospital. 

The GNAAS spokesperson confirmed: "Our paramedic and doctor team assessed and treated a patient before airlifting them to hospital."

A Durham police spokesman said: “Officers were called at 11.55am today to reports of a road traffic collision on Central Avenue, Newton Aycliffe.

"One man has suffered potentially life-changing injuries and has been flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

"Enquiries are ongoing.”

One neighbour told The Northern Echo they believe a man was hit by a wagon.