TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who died when his car left the road and crashed into a wall last weekend.

Police on Friday formally identified the victim as Paul Mellor, 46, of Ludworth, near Durham.

Mr Mellor, a window fitter by trade who had been with Safeseal for the last nine years, was driving his silver-coloured Lexus car when it left the A183, in Chester-le-Street, on Sunday January 29.

A tribute released by his family said: "Paul was a loving son to Kathleen and David, a stepson to Alan and Trish, a much-loved brother to his siblings and boyfriend of Leanne.

"He had a love for motor vehicles and would spend many an hour tinkering with them.

"Paul will be sadly missed by everyone, he was a man with a unique character and was fondly thought of by all who knew him."

The accident happened around 3.40pm on Sunday, on the A183 Chester Road, around a quarter of a mile south of Blind Lane interchange, or junction 63 of the A1(M).

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "The driver of a silver Lexus IS200 was heading in the direction of Sunderland but for some reason his car left the carriageway and collided with a stone wall and bridge parapet.

"Paramedics and staff from the air ambulance attended to treat the casualty but he was sadly confirmed dead at the scene.

A spokesman for the Great North Air Ambulance said: "We arrived on site at approximately 3.50pm and one male was treated at the scene.

"Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services he subsequently died."

Durham Constabulary would like to speak with anybody who may have seen the silver Lexus at or around the time of the collision.

  • Anybody with any information is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 0191-3752159 or Durham Police on the non-emergency number 101, quoting incident reference 0288 of January 29.