POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a road accident which has left a man in a critical condition.

The accident happened on the A688 road at Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, just before 11pm on Saturday. A 29-year-old pedestrian was involved in an accident with a Saab car while crossing the road. The man, from Shildon, County Durham, sustained serious head injuries and was taken to Bishop Auckland General Hospital, where his condition was last night described as critical. The occupants of the car, who are from the Liverpool area, were uninjured. Police have appealed for witnesses to contact PC Cowie at the Durham Constabulary accident unit, on 0191-386 4929.

FATAL CRASH: A motorbike pillion passenger was killed on Saturday night after a crash on the A64, near Rillington, North Yorkshire. Police said both the bike and a red Vauxhall Nova pulled out to overtake a line of traffic at the same time, causing the motorcyclist to lose control. The pillion passenger was pronounced dead at the scene, while the rider suffered serious injuries and was taken to Scarborough General Hospital. The accident happened at about 7.30pm. Witnesses are asked to contact police on (01609) 783131.

COACH FIRE: Thirty youngsters were forced to evacuate the coach they were travelling on when a fire broke out on Saturday. The children, from West Yorkshire, were heading towards for Scarborough when the blaze started on the A64 road, near Pickering, North Yorkshire, at about 10.30am. The rear part of the vehicle, operated by Ross Travel, of Featherstone, was damaged, and the road was closed for more than two hours. Nobody was injured and the party was able to continue travelling after a short delay.

BOATS BLESSED: The Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Robert Ladds, gave the traditional annual blessing to boats in Whitby Harbour yesterday. To mark this year's return of the replica HM Bark Endeavour to the town, the Bishop stood fully robed and mitred on Endeavour Wharf, instead of the usual position on the lifeboat jetty. He then led a service of prayers and hymns for people who live and work on the sea.

SMALL WORLD: Hundreds of modelling enthusiasts descended on the Borough Hall, on Hartlepool's Headland, for the ninth annual North-East Scale Model Open competition at the weekend. The event featured 35 competitive classes covering aircraft, vehicles, boats, science fiction and figures.

THREE HURT: Three people were hurt, one seriously, in a collision between a cyclist and Honda motorcycle on the A6076, at Howden Bank, near Lanchester, County Durham, at 6.25pm on Saturday. The 15-year-old cyclist, who suffered serious head injuries, was last night poorly in the University Hospital of North Durham. The 43-year-old motorcyclist, from the Tantobie area, was treated for a broken collarbone, while his 36-year-old pillion passenger suffered minor injuries.

PEDESTRIAN INJURED: A 16-year-old boy was seriously injured when he was struck by a car in Potto Street, Shotton Colliery, Peterlee, County Durham, at the weekend. A police spokesman said the boy, who was from the Shotton Colliery area, was taken to Middlesbrough General Hospital, where his condition was described as poorly.