A PEDESTRIAN is in hospital with serious head injuries after being knocked down by a car.

A 19-year-old man remains seriously ill following the incident on New Front Street in Annfield Plain, near Stanley at just after 2.20am on Saturday.

Several witnesses reported that the injured man appears to have been standing in the middle of the road, close to Derwentside Funeral Services, and a number of drivers were forced to swerve to avoid him.

He was then struck by a taxi, a silver Vauxhall Insignia estate containing three passengers, which was heading towards Catchgate.

He was taken to RVI in Newcastle by ambulance.

Neither the taxi driver, a 65-year-old local man, or his passengers, two men and a woman, were injured.

The road was closed for two-and-a-half hours while accident investigators examined the scene.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to the incident or anyone who saw the injured man in the moments leading up to the collision.

A spokesman for Durham Constabulary, said: “The man appears to have been stood in the middle of the carriageway and numerous other motorists have had to swerve to avoid him.

“Sadly, the driver of the taxi has not seen the man until it was too late and has collided with him.

“We would like to hear from any witnesses to the incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to ring Durham Police on 101 and quote the reference DHM-10032018-0051.