POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a road rage incident that left one man in hospital and two in police cells.

A white Saxo and a silver Vectra were spotted driving erratically in the Greenfield Way area, of Newton Aycliffe, at about 6pm on Saturday.

They came to a halt in the street and the sole passenger in the Vectra jumped out and allegedly smashed the Saxo's window.

The Saxo driver, allegedly in panic, drove forward and collided with the 20-year-old driver of the Vectra who had got out and was stood in front of the vehicle.

He suffered cuts and bruises in the impact and was detained in the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment.

His condition is said not to be life threatening.

The Vectra passenger and the Saxo driver, also both 20, were later arrested and questioned by police.

They were released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Detective Sergeant Colin Howey said police received a number of calls to attend to the man lying injured in Greenfield Way but they are anxious to speak to anybody who may have seen the vehicles driving in an erratic manner before that incident.

He said: "It was early evening on a Saturday night, many people will have been out and about and the way these vehicles were being driven will have attracted people's attention.

"We need to speak to all those who saw them as well as witnesses who saw exactly what happened in Greenfield Way."

All of the men are from Newton Aycliffe.

Anyone with information is asked to call 0345-60-60-365 for the attention of DS Howey or Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.