A PEDESTRIAN was killed when he was hit by a delivery van that skidded on black ice on a North-East road yesterday morning.

Kevin Owens died of serious head injuries when the Ford Transit left the road near Trimdon Station, in County Durham, and struck him as he walked his dog.

The 49-year-old is understood to be married with an adult son and young grandchild.

Mr Owens, of Berwick Court, Trimdon Grange, had been walking along the footpath next to the C67, 500m east of the junction with the B1278.

The van returned to the road, but skidded off the opposite side, through a fence and careered down a bank into a field.

The 48-year-old van driver, from Wingate, had been delivering bread to local shops for a Shotton Colliery-based firm before the accident.

Villagers realised who had been involved in the accident, at about 7.20am, when they saw Mr Owen's Alsatian dog walking home alone.

A Great North Air Ambulance crew was called to the scene, giving witnesses hope that Mr Owens had survived, but he had already been declared dead at the scene.

Newsagent Ian Harper had been delivering newspapers to local farms at the time of the accident.

He said: "The road was lethal. Quarter of an hour earlier it was fine, then there was a sudden cold snap and the damp road got really icy.

"There were about three other cars that had slipped and gone into fences.

"It is an unbelievable tragedy, just a second either way the van might not have hit him."

Accident investigators from Durham Police said that although the traffic was light yesterday morning, the road was hazardous due to black ice.

Witnesses are urged to contact the accident investigation unit, on 0191-375 2159.