A huge hunt is on for a farmer who wandered off from the scene of a crash while paramedics were treating his passenger.

Police fear that Cliff Allen, 50, could be in a dazed and confused state after the accident, and are desperately trying to track him down.

Mr Allen had been to market to but two sheep when he crashed his Land Rover into a wall at Nettle Pot Cottage in Teesdale, County Durham, he was taking the sheep back to his farm in Gayle, near Hawes in North Yorkshire.

A police spokesman said: "We are not sure if Mr Allen went off to look for the sheep, which escaped when the Land Rover crashed, or if he was in a dazed state as a result of injuries that he might have sustained.

"What we do know is that he wandered off onto the Moors of County Durham and out of sight. It is imperative that we find him incase he is injured and needs medical attention."

A 24 strong team were joined in the search by a helicopter immediately after the crash, on Tuesday night and 34 rescuers were back on the Moors at first light this morning.

They are searching sheds and farm buildings, and have asked people in rural towns and villages in the area to be on the lookout.

The unnamed passenger was taken to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough, and although they were detained over night their injuries are not thought to be serious.