A MAN who was knocked down by a car in Bishop Auckland remains in hospital in a critical but stable condition.

The 55-year-old was hit by a red Suzuki Swift at about 6pm on Wednesday, December 23, on the A6072, West Auckland Road, at Tindale Crescent, near to the junction with the A688.

The Suzuki had entered the A6072 from the A688 and was heading east when the pedestrian emerged from slow moving traffic on the westbound carriageway.

The man, from St Helen Auckland, suffered serious head injuries and was taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

An ambulance was called to the Dilks Street area together with a land trauma crew from the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

The driver and the occupants of the Suzuki, a local man and his family were uninjured as a result of the collision.

Durham Police is appealing for any witnesses to the accident to contact the investigating officers from the Collision Investigation Unit on 0191 3752159 and quote incident reference DHM23112015-0328 or contact the Collision Investigation Unit on 101 extension 752159.