A DALES community is mourning a young driver who died when his car lost control on a country road.

Landscape gardener Graham Pears, aged 20, was driving two friends back from a game of darts in a pub to their home village of Westgate in Weardale, on Thursday night.

Police said he was killed instantly when his blue Citroen Saxo apparently lost control on a bend in the A689, crashed into a dry stone wall and turned over on to its roof just before the entrance to Heights Quarry.

The passengers, aged 19 and 20, escaped with lesser injuries.

Mr Pears lived with his mother Margaret at Britton Hall, Westgate. His father Malcolm ran the village filling station for 25 years until his death in June 1999.

Weardale councillor John Shuttleworth said: "His family are devastated. He was a nice lad and the family are well known in the dale."

The tragedy also shocked Mr Pears' colleagues at Brambledown Landscapes in Meadowfield.

Managing director Frank Curry said: "We were very saddened to hear of Graham's passing. In the 12 months he had worked with this company he gained respect for his attitude and skills. He will be a great loss to all his colleagues."

Police closed the road for four hours after the crash which happened at 11pm. They appealed for witnesses.

They also want to talk to anybody who saw the car being driven on the A689 before the crash. They should call the accident investigation unit at police headquarters, in Durham, on (0191) 386 4929.

An inquest is to be opened on Friday.