MOTORISTS were forced to swerve and take evasive action when a rogue driver drove the wrong way down 18 miles of dual carriageway.

Cleveland Police headquarters were first alerted about the erratic manner in which a Black Proton car was being driven, via 999 calls made by passers-by in Middlesbrough town centre, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A police patrol spotted the car as it drove west along the eastbound carriageway of the A66, Durham Police becoming involved as the car crossed the county boundary reaching speeds of 60mph.

A Cleveland Police crew stopped the Proton on the roundabout at Great Burdon, on the edge of Darlington, without mishap.

But a Force spokeswoman said: "There were a lot of cars having to swerve to avoid him. It was extremely lucky a serious traffic accident did not occur.''

A 31-year-old Stockton man has been arrested for drink driving offences and given police bail pending further inquiries into the incident.

Cleveland Police are appealing for motorists who had to evade or saw the Proton, to contact them on (01642) 301558.

It's the second incident on Teesside, recently, of a motorist driving the wrong way along the A66. Just ten days ago a woman in her 50s drove the wrong way down the A66 at North Ormesby, after becoming confused with a new interchange.