AN inquest into the death of a County Durham man was opened at the coroner’s court, civic centre, Crook at 10am today (July 29).

Marc Anthony Noel, 17, from Cockfield, suffered fatal injuries when the car he was driving left the A688 near Barnard Castle and hit a tree on Friday, May 29.

Roofer, Mr Noel was driving a Subaru Forester 4x4 towards Staindrop when he lost control at Barford Corner. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Coroner Andrew Tweddle heard evidence from PC Jacqueline Sirrell to confirm the date and place of death and to say police investigations were ongoing.

Mr Tweddle reported that the post-mortem had revealed the cause of death was due to fractured vertebrae and multiple injuries consistent with a road traffic collision.

Mr Noel’s family chose not to attend.

The inquest was adjourned until September 21 at the same court, by which time it is expected police investigations will be completed and a full inquest can take place.

The former Staindrop School pupil was a family friend of Paul Armstrong, a 34-year-old father-of-three also from Cockfield who died during the early hours of Sunday, April 26, when his Ford Mondeo crashed a mile down the same road during the early hours of Sunday, April 26.

The double tragedy has led to renewed calls for highway safety officers to look again at Barford Corner, which has been the site of a number of serious accidents over the years.