Two held over shooting at Humber Hill, Stanley

Aug 31 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

POLICE were last night holding two men after a shooting in a quiet Durham town.

The men were being quizzed after two violent clashes on Saturday night which officers believe are linked.

A shotgun has also been recovered and is being examined.

The first stand-off, at Humber Hill in Stanley, is believed to have involved several people in a number of vehicles, including the drivers of a silver Mercedes E320 CDi and a black Mitsubishi L200.

Terrified residents living near the scene heard several shots ring out shortly after 6pm.

But it is not believed there were any casualties as a result of the shooting.

The Mercedes and the Mitsubishi 4x4 then left the scene and a second confrontation took place about half an hour later on the A691 in Durham city.

At least one shot was fired at the roundabout near County Hall, and the two cars are believed to have crashed.

As the drama unfolded the 4x4 left the road and overturned onto a grassy area at the side of the roundabout.

The 40-year-old driver, from Belmont, Durham, was arrested inside his mangled car.

He suffered a suspected broken arm as a result of the smash and was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham for treatment under armed guard.

Late on Saturday night he was discharged and taken into police custody.

The 37-year-old driver of the Mercedes, who is from Stanley, was arrested shortly afterwards by uniformed officers in Fieldhouse Lane, on the road from Durham towards Sacriston.