Police are hunting a hit and run driver who mowed down and killed a young woman in the early hours of this morning.
The 22-year-old victim was struck by a silver VW Golf GTi Clubsport, on the outskirts of Durham, just before 2am.
Police and paramedics treated the woman, who suffered head and chest injuries, at the scene before taking her to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
But she could not be saved and died soon after arrival, Durham Police confirmed.
The incident happened on the A167, at the junction of Newcastle Road and Darlington Road, in the university town.
Detectives say the driver failed to stop and have appealed for witnesses and anyone with ring doorbell or dashcam footage of the accident to come forward.
Surrounding roads remained closed for around five hours.
The junction of Newcastle Road and Darlington Road, in Neville's Cross, Durham, where the woman was struck by a VW Golf that failed to stop
A Durham Police spokesman said: 'A pedestrian has sadly died following a road traffic collision in the early hours of this morning.
'Shortly before 2am, emergency services were called to Neville's Cross on the A167 in Durham following reports of a collision between a woman and a car.
'The 22-year-old woman was taken to the RVI, in Newcastle, but sadly died a short time later.
'Her family have been notified and are being supported by specialist officers.
'The car involved in the collision, which is believed to be a silver VW Golf GTi Clubsport, failed to stop at the scene.
'An investigation has been launched and officers are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam or doorbell footage who has not yet spoken to them to get in touch.
'The road was closed for several hours while collision investigators worked at the scene but has since reopened.'
A spokesman for The North East Ambulance Service confirmed two paramedic ambulance crews, a specialist paramedic, a doctor and a duty officer had attended and treated the woman at the scene.
'They treated one patient with injuries to her head and chest before taking her to the RVI in Newcastle,' he said.