A car thought to be driven by supermarket thieves has killed a "loving" father and seriously injured his young son while they were collecting conkers.

'Devoted' Bryan Hardwick, 26, was hit by a Rover 45 as he waited to cross the road with his two-year-old son Liam and daughter Brogan, three.

Also injured was 40-year-old family friend Dave Weatherburn, who was in a "serious" condition at Darlington's Memorial Hospital. Brogan was left unharmed after the incident on Saturday afternoon and Liam's condition is described as "serious but stable".

The Rover, carrying four people who are believed to be on their way from stealing beer from a nearby Asda supermarket, then continued down a grassed embankment on the A688 at Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, before hitting a tree.

Firefighters cut a 14-year-old boy and a 22-year-old from the back of the car. They are both seriously ill in hospital. Two people in the front were seen to run off towards the River Gaunless.

Later, police arrested men aged 26 and 18 in relation to the crash, and they are being held at Bishop Auckland police station for questioning.

A Durham Police spokesman said: "It is believed that, shortly before the incident, the occupants of the vehicle were involved in a theft at the Asda supermarket in South Church Road, Bishop Auckland, and investigators are keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the theft or saw the vehicle travelling between that location and the scene of the collision."

Mr Hardwick's partner Kayleigh Sanderson, 21, said "They had gone to get some conkers from St Andrew's churchyard. They were on their way home when the accident happened."

Her mother, Gillian Sanderson, 39, added: "Bryan was a lovely boy, devoted to his kids. We are now praying that Liam will pull through."

Detective Inspector Billy Hugill said: "I would urge anyone who saw this vehicle travelling between South Church Road and the scene of the collision on the bypass between the roundabout at St Andrew's Church and the Kwik Save roundabout to contact us as their information could help with our inquiries."

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