POLICE have renewed an appeal for information about the owner of horse involved in a road accident in County Durham which left a young woman critically ill in hospital.

The 23-year-old front-seat passenger is still fighting for her life at Newcastle General Hospital after Sunday night's smash.

Nichola Humphries, of Yarrow Court, Woodham, sustained serious head injuries in the accident on the A689 at Toronto, near Bishop Auckland.

Her boyfriend, a 21 year-old Newton Aycliffe man, was driving the car which collided with a loose horse at about 8.45pm.

The horse rolled on to the roof of the Fiat Seicento, which then collapsed on to Miss Humphries.

She was taken to University Hospital of North Durham for treatment, before being transferred to Newcastle General Hospital, where her condition is said to have improved slightly.

The horse, described as black with a white stripe on its head and white hooves, died in the collision.

Anyone with information about the owner of the horse is asked to call accident investigators at Durham Police Constabulary on 0191-386 4929.