AN ELDERLY woman was killed when she ran out into traffic on a road in pursuit of her pet dog.

The tragedy took place outside the village doctor's surgery in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, at 5.20pm yesterday.

Durham Police said it appeared the 72-year-old local woman ran from between two parked cars onto Thornley Road, following the dog, into the path of an oncoming Nissan Almera car, travelling in a northerly direction.

She fell onto the road and was taken by ambulance to Durham's University Hospital of North Durham, where she was pronounced dead.

The 34-year-old driver of the Almera, who is from nearby Shotton Colliery, suffered shock.

Her front seat passenger, a young girl, was not injured.

Thornley Road was closed for two-and-a-half hours after the accident while the Durham Police collision investigation team examined the scene and removed the car, which was damaged around the front bumper and bonnet.

It reopened at 8.23pm.

Police said the dog, which was uninjured, was being looked after by members of the family today.

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to ring PC Bell in the road policing unit, on 0345-60 60 365.