A TEENAGER seriously hurt when his father was killed after a road accident involving their horse-drawn vehicles has regained consciousness.

Police now hope that Lewis Wood, 14, will be able to recall the accident which left him on a life support machine and claimed the life of his father, Terrence, 40, as they rode along the A689 in Coundon, County Durham, on Thursday evening.

The youngster, from Leeholme, Coundon, was riding a two-wheeled trap in single file ahead of his father's four-wheeled carriage, when a red Nissan Micra was involved in an accident with them, knocking Mr Wood's wagon into his son's.

Mr Wood was declared dead at Bishop Auckland General Hospital. His son suffered serious injuries, including a fractured pelvis and concussion, and was placed on a life support machine.

He was moved from Darlington Memorial Hospital to the children's intensive care unit at Newcastle General Hospital within a few hours and regained consciousness at the weekend.

A police spokesman said: "He has come round and he is in a stable condition."

It is not known whether Lewis has been informed of his father's death, but Mr Wood's wife, Alison, and daughter, Megan, have been at his side since the incident.

Sergeant Phil Hill, who is investigating the crash, said his recollections could be vital.

He said: "We are hoping that Lewis will remember some of the details. It is possible that he may have suffered some form of amnesia and will be in shock, but we are hoping he may be able to remember something."

Police will also be interviewing the driver of the car, named as Lisa Tomlinson, 25, of Eton Road, Stockton, as part of their inquiries.

She was taken to Bishop Auckland General Hospital suffering from shock and later released, but will be given more time to recover before she is questioned.

The two carriages and the car have been examined and Sgt Hill said he was keeping an open mind as to the cause of the accident, which took place towards the end of a straight stretch of road east of Coundon Industrial Estate.

Anyone with information about the accident has been asked to call police on 0191-375 2159.