Police are appealing for information after an early morning collision in Hartlepool on Sunday, April 12.

It happened just before 5.25am at the junction of Winterbottom Avenue and Warren Road and involved a red Ford Ka which had been reported stolen overnight and a Mercedes Vito taxi.

The Ka collided with the Vito then both vehicles struck a pedestrian barrier whereupon it’s believed someone ran from the Ka before police officers arrived at the scene.

Two occupants of the Ka, a 12-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, sustained injuries, with the older boy losing consciousness and several teeth.

The younger boy sustained cuts and bruises, and both were taken to the University Hospital of North Tees.

They have each been arrested on suspicion of several driving offences and will be questioned.

The 49-year-old man driving the Mercedes sustained a head injury and he remains in the University Hospital of North Tees receiving treatment.

Police are appealing for anyone with information or any relevant doorbell, dash cam or private CCTV footage who has not yet spoken to police to contact us on the 101 number or via the Cleveland Police website, quoting ref 068120.

If you don’t want to speak to police, please consider passing information anonymously to www.crimestoppers-uk.org or phoning them on 0800 555 111.