A WOMAN found unconscious after the arrest of a youth apparently trying to take her car remained in a "serious" condition on hospital today.

Police discovered the 40-year-old woman lying unconscious in the living room at the terraced home where she lives alone, in Easington Street, Easington Colliery, County Durham, in the early hours yesterday.

Badly bruised around the face and bleeding from her mouth she was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital suffering serious head injuries.

Durham Police said today that she was detained at the hospital overnight and was still in a "serious" condition this morning.

An 18-year-old youth arrested after a police pursuit of a Renault Clio car in Easington Colliery shortly after 2.30am yesterday was still helping police inquiries today.

He was said to have been seen getting into the Clio, which belongs to the injured woman, as police arrived at the scene in response to a call from suspicious neighbours awoken by noises of a car revving up outside the house in Easington Street.

Detectives investigating the incident today appealed for anyone who may have seen or heard a disturbance, or seen someone acting suspiciously in the street, or in nearby Paradise Street, Noble Street or Oswald Terrace, between 1.30 and 2.30am yesterday.

The officer leading the inquiry, Detective Sergeant Cliff Down, is also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen or picked up a blue hooded top which may have been discarded in the Easington Colliery area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0345-60 60 365, or ring the Crimestoppers' freephone line, anonymously if they wish, on (0880) 555111.