A MAN has been arrested following a crash in which a car hit a lamp post and collided with a wall.
Residents described hearing a "loud bang" which awoke them from their beds.
The front end of the Ford Focus was severely damaged after the crash in the Westmoreland Street area of Darlington, shortly before midnight last night.
The driver had turned off Whessoe Road into Westmoreland Street, but lost control of the car on the corner, hitting a lamppost and colliding with a wall and railings, which form part of a block of flats.
One local resident, who contacted The Northern Echo, said: “It woke us all up. There was a loud bang as the car crashed.
“We then heard police sirens and there was shouting.”
Police said a 53-man had been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, possession of a Class B drug (cannabis), resisting arrest, driving while unfit through drink or drugs and failing to stop for police.
A spokesman for Durham Police said: "The incident began at 11:46pm on Monday night when the driver of a Ford Focus made off from police in Darlington.
"Following a short pursuit, the vehicle crashed as it was turning from Whessoe Road on to Westmoreland Road.
"The vehicle struck a lamp post, and the driver suffered minor injuries."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article