A TEENAGER who died when the car he was travelling in careered off a village road was out celebrating his birthday, it has emerged. John Gary Robson, of Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, near Stanley, County Durham, had met up with friends to celebrate his 18th birthday when tragedy struck on Friday (DEC 19) night.

He was a passenger in a blue Citroen ZX Avantage that went out of control in Annfield Plain, smashing into a lamp-post before hitting 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 both former pupils of Greencroft School.

Two other passengers, both 20-year-old men from the Stanley area, were last night still recovering in hospital after sustaining serious injuries in the smash.

Their injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

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 past the town's Masonic Hall, at 9pm on Friday.

Durham Police are still appealing for information from witnesses to the crash to call 0191-375 2159.