FOOTBALL legend Paul Gascoigne narrowly escaped serious injury when he swerved to avoid a head-on collision in his native North-East.

The former Newcastle and England star smashed his BMW X5 into a parked delivery truck after swerving to avoid an oncoming car near Gateshead yesterday.

Last night, his agent, Wes Saunders, said the 36-year-old idol was severely shocked but unhurt.

The accident happened on Wellington Road, in Dunston, just before 3.45pm yesterday.

Police said Gazza had swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle which was overtaking a parked BMW.

Gazza's black £35,000 BMW, with registration R11 GAN after his son Regan, was badly damaged and was towed away from the scene.

The star is understood to have refused hospital treatment.

Gazza's best friend, Jimmy "Five Bellies" Gardner, 38, said last night: "Gazza is as sound as a pound. He was not hurt at all, he didn't need to go to hospital and he's feeling fine."

The crash happened only days after Gazza stole the show as part of a star-studded line-up which helped raise £100,000 for cash-strapped Darlington Football Club.

The boots which Gazza wore during two hours of football at the Reynold's Arena on Sunday, will be auctioned to help raise more cash for the club.

It is not Gazza's first motoring accident. In 1998 he scraped Middlesbrough FC's £250,000 bus against a concrete post.

Any witnesses to yesterday's crash are asked to contact police on 0191-454-7555.