A PENSIONER was killed when his silver Honda car left the road, ploughed through hedges and into a stream.

Harold Roy Oliver, 76, had been driving from Easingwold to Stillington on a quiet country lane late on Thursday night.

Mr Oliver, of Strensall, near York, lost control of the car and it skidded into a hedgerow before veering off the road and plunging into a shallow beck, where it came to rest.

Emergency services were called at 11.45pm on Thursday, and the pensioner was pronounced dead at the scene.

Inspector Nigel Slater, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "The crash occurred on an unadopted road between Easingwold and Stillington, north of York, close to the junction with Ings Lane.

"A silver Honda travelling from Easingwold left the road to the offside, colliding with hedging before coming to rest in a shallow stream."

He added: "The road was closed for about four and a half hours while police collision investigators carried out an examination of the vehicle and the scene.

"Local diversions were enforced during this time."

Anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the vehicle immediately before the accident is asked to come forward.

Witnesses have been asked to phone PC Dan Hughes, of Thirsk Road Traffic Police, on 0845 6060247.