RESIDENTS have praised police for their swift response after a man crashed a car into a safety barrier near their homes and began to stab himself.

Twelve emergency service vehicles carrying police, specialist firearm officers and paramedics attended Rushyford, near Ferryhill, County Durham, at about 9pm last night (Tuesday, April 7).

Residents living near the Eden Arms Hotel on the Rushyford roundabout raised the alarm after a man in his early 60s crashed his car into a safety barrier and a litter bin above a small beck.

Witnesses described how the man then ran onto private land behind a row of houses called The Cottages and started to stab himself.

The landowner John Newbould was one of the first on the scene.

Paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and the man was treated at the scene before being taken to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough with non-life threatening injuries.

Mr Newbould, who has lived in Rushyford for 17 years, said: “It was very surreal at the time and it all happened so fast. Once you stop and take in what happened it is very sad.”

His neighbour, Peter Troy, 61, called the police and both he and Mr Newbould praised officers for their quick response.

“The street was full of flashing lights within minutes,” said Mr Troy.

“The police and the paramedics acted quickly and handled the situation very well.”

A Durham Police spokesperson said: “Officers responded to a report that a man had stabbed himself after the car he was driving collided with a bin.

“The location was given as being in the vicinity of the Eden Arms Hotel at Rushyford.

“Paramedics attended and gave treatment to the man at the scene. The man, aged in his early-60s, was taken by ambulance to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough where he remains.

“His injuries are described as non life-threatening and earlier today (Wednesday, April 8) he was described as being in a stable condition.”

To talk to the Samaritans for help on any issue, call 08457-90-90-90 or email jo@samaritans.org