THE young motorist killed when his car left a country road and plunged into a field was today named by police.

William Richard Dalkin was at the wheel of a Hyundai Coupe which appeared to lose control after negotiating a left hand bend on Langley Lane, between the villages of Witton Gilbert and Burnhope, west of Durham, in the early hours yesterday.

Durham Police said it crashed into and over a fence bordering the road before tumbling approximately 100-metres along the edge of a field, where it overturned and came to rest.

Mr Dalkin, 22, of The Haven, in Burnhope, suffered head and internal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His two passengers, a 22-year-old woman and a 27-year-old man, both from Sacriston, County Durham, each escaped without injury.

Officers from the Durham force's collision investigation unit have appealed for information from anyone who may have seen the silver car on Langley Lane before it struck the fence, around three-quarters of a mile from its junction with the A691 Durham to Lanchester road.

The accident took place at around 1.30am yesterday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0191-375 2159.