Council leader voices 'deep frustration' after fatal crash on single carriageway section of the A1 in Northumberland

A woman was killed in a three-vehicle collision on the A1 near Felton on Sunday – the seventh fatality on the road in recent months.

Cllr Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “Yet another very serious crash on the single carriageway is both heart-breaking but also deeply frustrating.

"The county council are working up a study of new evidence and data to put before the government soon to try to highlight just how important dualling is now.

"But our hearts go out to everyone involved in this awful crash and we will do all we can to push for progress on this overwhelmingly critical situation to help avoid these dreadful crashes.”

North Northumberland MP David Smith added: “I'm deeply saddened to hear of the fatal collision near Felton this weekend. My thoughts are with those affected, especially the family of the woman who died.

"No-one should have to lose their life on our roads and I would urge anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage to contact the police to help them establish what happened to cause the collision.”

Police have launched a full investigation – and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Sergeant Greg Huntley, of Northumbria Police, said: “Our thoughts are firmly with the family and loved ones of the woman who has sadly died in this tragic collision.

“We will continue to offer them all the support they need and would ask that their privacy is respected at this time.”

Sgt Huntley added: “We are now appealing for further information and for anyone with dashcam footage of the vehicles involved to come forward.

“If you were travelling in either direction on the A1 around the time of this collision, any information you are able to provide could prove crucial to our enquiries.”

Officers were also called to a two-car collision on the A1 north of Alnwick at the South Charlton junction on Saturday morning. No-one was injured.

A proposed scheme to dual 13 miles of the road between Morpeth and Ellingham was scrapped in 2025 after officials deemed the £500million estimated cost as “poor value for money”.

National Highways has committed to carrying out safety improvements on the route as part of the Road Investment Strategy.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently acknowledged that the North East has been underfunded when it comes to transport infrastructure and said he would not "conveniently forget" the issues facing the A1. He also indicated that ministers would explore alternative funding options to enable the long hoped-for upgrade.