A TEENAGE girl had an amazing escape after she was crushed by an overturned car that hit the telephone box she was in.

The 15-year-old had to be freed by firefighters from under the wreckage of a Toyota car and the phone box in the accident in Evenwood gate, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, yesterday afternoon.

Last night, she was recovering in Middlesbrough's James Cook Memorial Hospital after she was taken there by air ambulance. It is believed she has no broken bones or internal injuries.

The accident happened at about 3.30pm when the driver of the car last control, hit a telegraph pole and the phone box and landed on its roof.

Witnesses told how they rushed out to see the wreckage, fearing for the safety of the driver.

They had no idea at first that the youngster was trapped in the wreckage until they heard her cries for help.

One man, who did not wish to be named, said: "When I got there, the woman in the car was hanging upside down and the straps of her seatbelt were holding her in.

"I asked her if she was okay and she said yes and then I heard a scream. I did not realise that the little girl was there.

"We do not know whether she was in the telephone box or whether she was just walking past.''

Two residents in the street managed to lean on the car to keep the weight off the girl until the police, fire and ambulance crews arrived.

The man said: "She kept saying get this off me and I had to assure her she was going to be okay. She was talking all of the time. I just hope she is going to be alright."

No details have been released on the female driver, who was also taken to the James Cook University Hospital by ambulance.

Inspector Ian Martin, from Bishop Auckland police, said: "This was a particularly nasty accident.

"It appears that the girl is going to be okay.

"I have been told that she has no broken bones or significant internal injuries.''

Insp Martin appealed for witnesses to the accident to call 0845 606 0365.