A PEDESTRIAN was killed instantly when he was struck by a car on the A1(M).

Stephen Ridley, 54, was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision at junction 58, at Faverdale in Darlington, about 9.45pm on Saturday.

Police are now attempting to trace witnesses to the incident to establish exactly what happened.

Mr Ridley, of Crossfield Road, in Darlington, was struck by a BMW 320, driven by a 65-year-old from Suffolk. He suffered multiple injuries.

The driver and his wife, who was in the passenger seat of the BMW, were both treated for shock by paramedics but are not thought to have suffered serious injuries.

The northbound carriageway of the A1(M) was closed for three hours while police worked at the scene.

A spokesman for Durham police said: "The car was travelling north when it struck a male pedestrian on an unlit section of the motorway, adjacent to the junction 58 slip road."

Witnesses to the incident, or anyone who may have seen Mr Ridley prior to the collision, should contact Durham polices accident investigation unit on 0191-375-2159.