VILLAGERS were yesterday mourning one of the most popular members of their community, who died in head-on car crash.

Graham Johnson, 32, died at the scene of the collision, on Monday evening. Five other people were injured in the smash, and last night three were seriously ill in hospital.

Surrounded by sympathy cards in his home at Pelton Fell, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Mr Johnson's father, Richard, yesterday described his son as a "gentle giant".

He said: "I had to identify him, and had to go back to see him three times, because I could not let go.

"He was full of life, a big 23-stone lad - a real gentle giant."

Mr Johnson, father to two-year-old Bernadette, was a part-time salesman. He lived in Wordsworth Avenue, Pelton Fell, and was nick-named Clicky.

Ian Lish, the landlord of Mr Johnson's local pub, The Crown Inn at nearby Pelton, said: "He was very well-known and well-liked - a lovely man."

Police are appealing for witnesses to the crash, which happened on the B6313, between Craghead and Grange Villa, near Stanley, at about 5.50pm.

The collision involved two Vauxhalls, a Cavalier and a Zafira. Mr Johnson was a front seat passenger in the Cavalier, which was being driven by James Hardman, 30, of Poplar Street, South Moor. Mr Hardman escaped with cuts and bruises.

The two back-seat passengers were Peter Hardman, 50, of Mary Street, Annfield Plain, and Michael Marshall, 27, of Sixth Avenue, Chester-le-Street. Both were seriously injured, although Mr Hardman has been released from hospital.

The driver of the Zafira, Carol Harrison, 27, of Sylvia Terrace, Shield Row, Stanley, and her passenger, Robert Palmer, 54, of Park Road, South Moor, were both seriously hurt.