A TEENAGER who died when the car he was travelling in careered off a village road had been celebrating his birthday, it has emerged.

John Gary Robson, of Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, had met friends to celebrate his 18th birthday when tragedy struck on Friday night.

He was a passenger in a blue Citroen ZX Avantage that went out of control in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, smashed into a lamppost and hit a wall.

Emergency services found the driver, 17-year-old Lee Darren Craggs, of South View Gardens, Annfield Plain, dead when they arrived at the scene.

Mr Robson, was pronounced dead on arrival at the University Hospital of North Durham.

The pair were former pupils of Greencroft School.

Two other passengers, both 20-year-old men from the Stanley area, were taken to hospital. One man, from Annfield Plain, was released yesterday, and the other was last night said to be comfortable and stable.

The Citroen was the only car involved in the accident, which took place in wet conditions, on the road between Shield Row and South View, Annfield Plain.

Accident investigators believe the car went out of control as it passed the town's Masonic Hall at 9pm.

Witnesses are asked to call 0191-375 2159.