A PENSIONER suffered fatal injuries after being involved in a car crash in thick fog.

The 78-year-old driver collided head-on with a Vauxhall Astra on Gillas Lane East, a quarter of a mile from the junction with Seaham Road, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham on Friday.

The driver, who has not been named, was travelling west on the road when he struck another car's wing mirror, before hitting the Vauxhall Astra.

RAF firefighters arrived at the scene at about 5.20pm and began to try to free him from his Ford Fiesta. Striking Seaham firefighters broke their picket and lifted the motorist from the wreckage.

The man, who was from the Houghton area, was taken to hospital with broken bones, but died yesterday, at 1.30pm.

A 77-year-old female passenger in the car sustained a broken wrist. The driver of the Astra, a 35-year-old man from Seaham, received a broken breast bone. He received treatment at hospital and was later released.

The road was closed for two hours as a result of the accident.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Northumbria Police motor patrol, on 0191-454 7555.