THREE people died in separate road accidents across the region.

A green Citroen car hit a railway bridge parapet on the A67 at Eaglescliffe, near Stockton, on Friday night, killing two men and injuring a third.

Minutes later, in a separate incident, a 42-year-old woman died when she was in collision with a taxi outside a Middlesbrough pub.

The Eaglescliffe accident was discovered by a passer-by at about 11.30pm.

All three men, who are believed to have been travelling from Darlington, were thrown from the car when it skidded after negotiating a sharp right hand bend.

The survivor was flung from the car, still strapped into his seat. He was understood to have be in the University Hospital of North Tees, in Stockton, yesterday with minor injuries, including a fractured right hand.

Investigating officer Sergeant Keith Kitson, of Cleveland Police, said the names of the dead men would not be released until members of their families had been informed.

A detailed examination of the scene was made throughout the night while the road was sealed off. The injured man was interviewed in hospital on Saturday.

In the other accident, the woman died at about 11.45pm, while she was crossing Southfield Road in Middlesbrough.

The woman, believed to be from Brotton in east Cleveland, suffered serious head injuries.

She was taken to James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, but later died.

Anyone who witnessed, or has any information about, either accident is asked to call Cleveland Police on (01642) 326326.

In another smash, two men from Meadowfield, near Durham City, suffered serious leg injuries when their car hit a house then a telegraph pole at 10.45pm on Saturday.

The men were trapped in their Vauxhall Astra for more than two hours, following the crash on the B6288 road, at Croxdale, north of Spennymoor.