POLICE in County Durham are appealing for information about a road accident in which a 60-year-old woman was killed.

Joan Hindmarch, of Shildon, died when her Toyota Corina car crashed with a Volvo 57 single deck coach on the A689 road at the junction of Windlestone Lane, near Rushyford, at about 5.25pm on Friday.

The coach driver, a 33-year-old man from the Bishop Auckland area, suffered whiplash and shock and was treated at Bishop Auckland General Hospital for a head injury but released later the same night.

Although a number of people were travelling on the bus, only one passenger, a 17-year-old girl from Spennymoor, was injured. She was treated at the same hospital for head injuries.

Accident investigators, who closed the road for four hours, are appealing for witnesses.

They especially want to trace the driver of a small black car that pulled out of Windlestone Lane on to the A689 just before the accident.

Anyone with information should call Durham Constabulary's accident unit on (0191) 3752159.

* An inquest into the death of Joan Hindmarch, of Drybourne Park, was expected to be opened at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday.