POLICE are appealing for a taxi driver who might have vital information about a fatal accident to come forward.

Footballer Darren Wake died in the early hours of Sunday, May 22 as he headed towards his home in Wheatley Hill after an end-of-season celebration in Durham City with team mates from Thornley Celtic Over-40s football club.

The 43-year-old stepped onto the A181 at Running Waters, near the junction with Byers Garth roundabout, and was struck by a Ford Transit minibus which was taking a number of passengers to Peterlee.

Officers investigating his death say they are now trying to trace a local taxi driver who gave him a lift less than an hour before the accident, which happened at 1.20am.

From a voicemail message left with a family member, investigating officers have now established that around 12.25am (25 minutes past midnight) he was picked up by a taxi in Durham, which then dropped him off in the Sherburn area. Police say it is unclear whether he paid for the fare or whether the driver gave him a lift as a favour.

His message did not make it clear which taxi firm he had travelled with and police are appealing for the driver to come forward.

PC Andy Edgar said: "We are hoping the driver will remember giving a lift to Mr Wake, who was wearing a distinctive pink T-shirt.

"If he can contact us it would help establish the sequence of events which led to his unfortunate death."

The taxi driver is asked to contact the Durham Constabulary’s collision investigation unit on 0191 375 2159.