ACCIDENT investigators examining a crash which left a five-month-old baby seriously injured renewed their appeal for witnesses yesterday.

The grey Renault Laguna in which Elethea Thompson and her parents were travelling, left the southbound carriageway of the A19, near Peterlee, east Durham, at about 5.50pm last Saturday.

The car careered down an embankment before overturning.

The baby's parents, Kevin, 22, and 19-year-old Anne-Marie Thompson escaped with minor injuries but Elethea suffered serious head injuries and remains in the intensive care unit at the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

Although she remained seriously ill last night, there has been a slight improvement in her condition, a hospital spokesman said.

Investigators are still trying to establish why the car left the carriageway and say that, despite earlier appeals for witnesses, only two other drivers have come forward.

PC Ian Haigh said: "Although traffic was fairly light for the A19, there will have been other drivers in the area at the time."

Witnesses are asked to call PC Haigh on 0191-375 2159.