A 21-YEAR-old man, killed in a road accident near Darlington on New Year's Day has been named as Matthew James Longstaff.

Mr Longstaff, from Ravensworth Road, in Bishop Auckland, died when the Ford Focus he was driving collided with a Dacia Duster Laureate. Mr Longstaff was declared dead at the scene.

The collision happened at around 12.40am on Wednesday, January 1 on Neasham Road in Neasham, Darlington, directly outside of Neasham Covert.

The 76-year-old man driving the Dacia Duster and his 74-year-old female passenger both suffered minor injuries and were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

Sgt Lee Morris from the Durham Road Policing Unit said: “The Ford Focus was travelling south on Neasham Road from the direction of Middleton St George towards Neasham when it appears to have gone across into the opposite lane and collided with the Dacia Duster Laureate which was heading north.

"I would like to appeal to anyone with any information or anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 and ask for the collision investigation unit.