A DRIVER died when he lost control of his car and collided with two stationary vehicles at the junction of two Darlington streets.

The 54-year-old local man, who has not been named, was negotiating the junction of Gladstone Street and North Lodge Terrace at noon yesterday when the accident happened.

A post-mortem examination will take place today to establish the cause of the man's death.

Police said he was driving a Peugeot 106 when it went out of control and collided with a stationary Vauxhall Corsa at the side of the road.

The Peugeot then struck a Nissan vehicle which had been abandoned in North Lodge Terrace earlier this month, causing a shunt which led to three other parked vehicles sustaining minor damage.

Other than the Peugeot driver, who was taken by ambulance to Darlington Memorial Hospital where he was certified dead shortly after arrival, the only other person involved in the accident was the 54-year-old owner of the Vauxhall Corsa who escaped without injury.

Officers at Durham police's accident investigation unit are appealing for witnesses to the accident to telephone them on 0191-386 4929.