A PENSIONER is seriously ill in hospital after a crash which left him with a punctured lung.

The accident happened on the A167, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, near the Gretna pub, on Tuesday, at about 3.40pm.

The injured man, a 77-year-old from Aycliffe Village, pulled out of Ricknall Lane, in a green Renault Kangoo, into the path of a Royal Mail Transit van.

Following the accident he was taken by ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital where is condition was described last night as critical but stable.

His wife, 80, who was also in the car was unhurt as was the driver of the van, a 33-year-old man from Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street.

The road was closed for some time but was opened again at about 6.15pm.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Durham Police's accident investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.