A PEDESTRIAN has died after he was hit by a car on one of Northumberland's busiest roads.

The 38-year-old man was walking along the northbound carriageway of the A189 Spine Road close to the junction with the A192, near Blyth, when he was struck by the car.

Police are now investigating and are appealing for witnesses to the collision, which happened shortly after 1am yesterday.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: “Officers were called to a report of a collision between a car and a pedestrian on the A189 Spine Road, close to the Horton junction.

“Police and paramedics attended, where a 38-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The road was closed for six hours to allow for investigations of the scene.

The busy dual-carriage way has a speed limit of 70mph. Several lives have been lost on the road in recent years.

Experienced cyclist and triathlete Liz Brown, 43, was cycling along the Spine Road near Cramlington when she was hit by a van driver who failed to see her in April last year.

Karl Reay, of Whitley Bay, was killed instantly when his Renault Clio spun out of control and overturned on the road in February last year, near Shankhouse, Cramlington.

Anyone who saw the latest incident or who spotted the pedestrian on the A189 prior to the collision is asked to contact police on 101, extension 69191.