POLICE are appealing for help in identifying a driver who fled the scene of a breakfast time accident in County Durham.

A Vauxhall Corsa tavelling in Commercial Street, Trimdon Colliery, was involved in an accident with a Ford Orion, travelling in the opposite direction, shortly before 8.30am yesterday.

It is thought that the Orion was making a right turn when the collision took place.

Although it was a relatively low speed accident, the two cars were extensively damaged.

The 30-year-old woman driver of the Corsa was badly shaken as a result of the smash, but otherwise escaped injury.

The four people in the Orion fled the scene, but within minutes two men and a teenage girl, who had all been passengers in the car, returned.

One of the men required hospital treatment for slight injuries.

The driver of the Orion, who is thought to be local, did not return to the scene.

PC Gary Emerson, one of the officers attending the incident outside Harper's newsagent, said he believed a number of people were in the area at the time.

He appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash, or who spotted the quartet fleeing the scene, to contact him at Newton Aycliffe Police Station on (01325) 467681.

A man was arrested and quest-ioned following the accident, and was later released on police bail.