A university student was seriously injured after she and a fellow undergraduate were hit by a car as they crossed a busy road.

The 18-year-old student suffered a serious head injury, a fractured hip and fractured leg after the accident in Durham City on Tuesday afternoon.

The pair, both students at Durham University's Collingwood College, were injured as they crossed South Road, near the junction with Elvet Hill Road at about 5.40pm and were hit by a Vauxhall Corsair driven by a local woman.

The 18-year-old, who originally comes from Staffordshire, was taken to the city University Hospital, but was later transferred to Newcastle General Hospital.

Although her condition was yesterday described as serious, her injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Her fellow pedestrian, a 20-year-old, was also taken to the University Hospital, but was discharged later that night after treatment for minor injuries.

The 33-year-old driver, her front seat passenger and two children travelling in the back of the car, were unhurt.