An investigation is underway after a lorry driver became impaled on a metal pole after crashing into gates.

The 37-year-old was delivering timber to a building site in Dodsworth Street in Darlington, in County Durham, when his vehicle collided with an open gate on Tuesday.

Police say the gate's pole smashed through the windscreen, speared him in the chest and went through the back of the vehicle.

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Firefighters took an hour to cut the victim free, removing the roof and doors of the cab.

The man, who has not been named, was flown by air ambulance to Middlesbrough's James Cook University Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to remove the pole. It is understood he is in a stable condition.

Colin Bage, of Country Durham and Darlington Fire Service said: "We were faced with a flatbed truck and it had a long round metal pole, probably three or four inches in diameter, which had entered the cab through the windscreen, impaled the driver, and then exited through the rear of the cab itself."

Mr Bage said the man remained conscious throughout the extraction process.

No other vehicle was involved and investigators from the Health and Safety Executive are looking into the accident.

(DS)