A FOOTBALL club's end of season celebration ended in tragedy when a popular player was killed in a road accident while heading home.

Darren Wake appears to have been making his way back to his home village of Wheatley Hill, County Durham, on foot, when he was struck by a minibus travelling in the same direction.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the tragedy, which took place on a rural stretch of the A181 road from Durham to Wheatley Hill, in the early hours yesterday.

Inspector Malcom Smart, of Durham Police, said the minibus, driven by a man from Peterlee, east Durham, was carrying passengers home from a separate night out, travelling eastwards on the A181.

He said the accident took place around 50 metres south-east of the Byers Garth roundabout, near Sherburn Village.

"It collided with the male pedestrian who had stepped onto the carriageway from the nearside into the path of the minibus."

Insp Smart said Mr Wake was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was closed for approximately four hours after the accident while initial investigations into the cause were carried out by police.

Mr Wake, 43, is understood to have been a married man, with two children.

He had been out in Durham with several fellow members of Thornley Celtic Over-40s football club.

Despite finishing bottom of the Sunderland and District Over-40s League Division Two, a number of players went for a night out after the team's final match of the season on Saturday.

Thornley Celtic secretary Paul Summerson said last night that the accident had stunned everyone connected with the club.

"I got word this morning and I don't really know what to say.

"He's been with us since he was 40. He's the centre half and a real character.

"A lot of people didn't know about it until today because we have players from all parts who had made their separate way home.

"As far as I know he was alone.

"I don't know why Darren was walking home. Maybe he couldn't get a taxi, but he was still a good few miles from home.

"It might have been that when he's seen the minibus coming he's tried to flag it down, we'll just have to wait to see."

Any witnesses to the accident, shortly after 1.15am, is asked to ring Durham Police's road accident unit, on 0191-375 2159.