A man has been charged with attempted murder after shots were fired following a car crash, police said.

An Audi is believed to have been rammed by a Mitsubishi on Front Street, Consett, Co Durham, around 1.05am on September 13, Durham Police said.

One of the occupants of the Audi is then accused of having fired shots towards an individual in the Mitsubishi before leaving the scene.

Nobody is believed to have been injured during the incident, the force said.

David Railton, 37, of Framwellgate Moor, Co Durham, was arrested by armed officers in Burnhope, Co Durham, on Friday and taken into custody for questioning.

He was charged with attempted murder on Saturday and remanded in custody to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

A section of Front Street was closed on Friday while a specialist search team carried out enquiries at the scene.

Further searches were also carried out at a house in the Framwellgate Moor area of Durham in connection with the investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Gary Atkinson, from Durham Constabulary, said: “We understand this incident will have caused a great deal of concern and alarm in the local community.

“As a result, we have increased our patrols in the area to provide reassurance to residents.

“I’d like to thank the community for their patience and support while we carried out our enquiries at the scene.

“I would urge anyone who has any information about this incident to please report it, either directly to the police or anonymously to Crimestoppers.”