POLICE today appealed for information from witnesses to a road accident involving one of the force’s own officers.

The patrol car driver was heading along Times Inn Bank, at Cold Hesledon, near Seaham, County Durham, responding to an incident, when the crash took place.

Sergeant Rob Smith, of Durham Police, said the officer's marked BMW was travelling south when a Renault car, on the same road, “moved into the path of the police vehicle”, prior to the collision.

Both the 52-year-old officer, with hand injuries, and the Renault driver, suffering whiplash, were taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

A Durham force spokesman said today that the officer, who is based at Seaham Police Office, remained in hospital overnight for treatment for a suspected broken hand.

Anyone with information about the accident, at 4.16pm yesterday, is asked to ring Acting Sergeant Christina Cunningham, in the Durham Police road policing unit, on 0345-60 60 365.