POLICE have appealed for a driver who swerved to avoid a man lying on the road to come forward.

Andrew Cook, 34, was lying on South Road, Durham City, and shortly afterwards he was hit by another car and died.

The crash happened shortly before 10.30pm last Thursday (March 20).

Police have now revealed they believe there was a near-miss minutes beforehand, involving a small, dark coloured car travelling north towards the New Inn traffic lights.

PC Gary Ramsey appealed for the driver to call the Durham Police on 101 and ask for the road policing unit.

Mr Cook, of Garden Avenue, Framwellgate Moor, was hit by a Vauxhall Corsa. The driver, a 31-year-old woman from Sunniside, and her passenger, a 36-year-old man from Bishop Auckland, were unhurt.