INVESTIGATORS are appealing for witnesses to a police chase that ended in a teenager's death.

Officers from Northumbria Police stopped commuters in Middlesbrough yesterday morning to quiz them about a crash that claimed the life of 18-year-old Craig Morris.

Mr Morris was a passenger in a silver Vauxhall Vectra that crashed out of control into trees following a seven-minute police chase.

Up to three Cleveland Police vehicles were involved in the pursuit.

The accident happened outside the Toby Carvery, in Marton Road, in the early hours of Tuesday, February 22.

Northumbria Police have been appointed to carry out the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The commission is appealing for witnesses who saw police following the Vectra from Hesleden Avenue, in Acklam.

From there, the Vectra - registration number N433 KPP - travelled along Trimdon Avenue, Acklam Road, Cambridge Road, Orchard Road, Sycamore Road, Ashfield Avenue, Keith Road, on to Marton Road, diverting through the Easterside estate before returning to Marton Road where it crashed.

A 42-year-old man, who had also been travelling in the car, suffered serious head injuries, and a 22-year-old man underwent surgery for a broken jaw. A fourth man, aged 23, was arrested and released on police bail.

Craig Morris's family agreed to turn off his life support machine at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, the day after the crash.

Police say the Vectra ignored signals to pull over and drove atup to 70mph through residential areas in treacherous snow and icy conditions and on the wrong side of the road before crashing into trees.

Several thousand pounds- worth of drugs were discovered in the crashed car.

Anyone who saw police following the Vectra is asked to contact Northumbria Police's special incident room at Southwick Police Station, in Sunderland, on 0191-563 6778.

An inquest into Craig Morris's death was opened last week and adjourned to a date to be fixed.