Police have confirmed a man has tragically died after being knocked over by a car on a busy main road through a North East town this morning. 

Ambulance crews and police converged on Ponteland, in Northumberland, after reports of a collision involving a car and pedestrian on the A696 at about 11.35am on Saturday (June 15).

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Shortly after 11.35am today (Saturday, June 15), police received a report of a collision involving a car and a pedestrian on the A696 in Ponteland, near to the junction with North Road.

"It was reported that a black Range Rover had been travelling in an easterly direction outside of St Mary’s Parish Church when, for reasons yet to be established, they have struck a male pedestrian.

"Emergency services attended the scene where the pedestrian – a man in his 70s – was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

"The man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers."

The spokesperson added: "The driver of the car remained at the scene and is assisting officers with their enquiries.

"Some road closures were put in place for around five hours, but they have since been lifted.

"Officers from Northumbria Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the collision – and have appealed for witnesses to come forward."

Sergeant John Sanderson, of Northumbria Police, said: “Firstly, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the man’s family and loved ones following this devastating incident.

“We will continue to support them in any way that we can.

“A number of enquiries are underway as we try to establish exactly what has happened in the moments leading up to the collision.

“As part of this, we are keen to hear from any motorists who were driving in the area at the time, and any witnesses who may have dashcam footage or CCTV.

“We know this is a busy area, and the collision happened while there were lots of people and vehicles in the town centre.

“Your information, no matter how small it may seem, could prove to be really valuable to our investigation.”

Anyone with information or footage should get in touch using the ‘Report’ page of the Northumbria Police website or by calling 101, quoting log number: NP-20240615-0397.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to a road traffic collision today (15 June) at 11:35am on North Road in Ponteland.

"We dispatched one ambulance crew, one clinical team leader, one duty officer, one specialist paramedic, a doctor and one HART crew (Hazardous Area Response Team) to the incident."