A WOMAN was discovered with serious head injuries minutes after a youth was spotted allegedly attempting to steal her car.

The 40-year-old, from Easington Colliery, County Durham, named locally as Audrey Turnbull, was rushed to hospital where x-rays and scans were carried out. She was last night sedated and unconscious.

An 18-year-old, arrested after a police pursuit, was still helping police with their inquiries last night.

The drama began when Amy Talbot, 20, and Daniel Ardron, 21, of Easington Street, heard a door being kicked in at about 2.30am yesterday.

Miss Talbot said: “We looked out and saw nothing, but about five to ten minutes later we heard a car revving outside.

“We looked out and saw a youth with his hood up, sitting in the driver’s seat of a Renault Clio, which we knew was our neighbour’s car.

“We phoned the police straight away. The youth then got out of the car, which was in the middle of the road.”

Mr Ardron said: “I went to see if the ignition was hotwired, but he appeared to have the keys.

“He came out of the woman’s house and said he had bought the car from her.”

Miss Talbot added: “I tried to keep him until the police arrived, but he got in the car and drove off.”

At that moment police arrived and gave chase.

Detective Sergeant Cliff Down, of Durham Police, said: “Police arrived to see him driving off in a Renault Clio, which belongs to the injured woman.

“That vehicle was abandoned in a nearby street. Police later spotted the man close by and he was arrested after a struggle.”

The officers then went back to check at the home of the car owner and discovered the woman lying unconscious in a ground floor room.

She had severe bruising to her face and was bleeding from her mouth.

Det Sgt Down said: “The officers raised the alarm and this lady was taken to hospital for immediate treatment.

This appears to have been a nasty attack carried out on a woman who lives alone.

“We need to speak to anyone who may have heard a disturbance or saw someone acting suspiciously in Easington Street and the nearby Paradise Street, Noble Street and Oswald Terrace between 1.30am and 2.30am today.”

Anyone who can help should contact police on 0345-60-60-365 or on 0800-555-111.