A DRIVER was in hospital tonight after a car crash in Darlington town centre.

Emergency services were called to Parkgate, in Darlington, at around 1.45pm after a Mazda 323 veered across both lanes of the road before smashing into the metal railings opposite Darlington Magistrates' Court.

Two members of staff rushed out of the court to perform first aid on the driver, and started CPR.

Acting Detective Sergeant Jim Honeyman, of Darlington CID, and PC Graham King were the first police officers on the scene.

DS Honeyman took over the CPR from the court staff.

He said: "I carried on doing it until the paramedics arrived and used the defibrillator on him."

The driver was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital before being transferred to The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where it is believed he remained tonight.

DS Honeyman and PC Graham King have been commended by senior police staff and staff at Darlington Memorial Hospital for their actions.

DS Honeyman said: "I am just really pleased he has pulled through and that the CPR actually worked."

It is feared the man was taken ill at the wheel during the incident, which did not involve any other vehicles. The driver's daughter was also in the car, but she was uninjured.

No further details about the man's condition were available tonight.

Anyone with any information about the crash is asked to call Durham Police on 101.