THREE teenagers narrowly escaped death when the car they were in crashed into a tree and burst into flames.

The 17-year-old driver spent most of yesterday undergoing skin graft surgery at the University Hospital of North Durham.

Stuart Welch, of Masefield Crescent, Sunnybrow, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham is believed to have swerved to avoid a deer in the road when he lost control of the vehicle. The car hit a tree and rolled up to five times, before a fire started in the engine and the trio became trapped.

Fire appliances from Stanhope and Crook freed the young men from the vehicle.

Neil Clark, 16, from Laburnum Gardens, Willington, was taken to the same hospital, where he is being treated for torn ligaments in his ankle and a broken nose. Doctors also fear he may have damaged his kidneys.

The second passenger, James Young, 16, of Low Willington, sustained mostly cuts and bruises to his face and upper body. He was able to leave Bishop Auckland General Hospital the same night.

Stuart, who works for a building firm, passed his driving test just a few weeks ago. The trio had planned to meet friends in Wolsingham, Weardale, when the accident happened on Saturday, at about 10.30pm, as Stuart drove the Vauxhall Corsa on the A689 at Hare Law Farm, Wolsingham.

His parents, Gary, a wagon driver, and Sandra, who works at Sunnybrow Primary School and Bishop Auckland Hospital, held a 24-hour vigil at the hospital.

His uncle, Les Welch, said: "Gary and Sandra were devastated when they got the news. We're just pleased he seems to have come through the worst.

"I haven't seen him but I know he was badly burnt. A lot of his skin has been destroyed and he needed a skin graft on one arm."

Aunt Joan Welch said: "The three lads and our son, Karl, are all best mates. They're a good bunch and this is just awful. It sounds like it could have been a lot worse so we have to be thankful they should all be okay."