POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a road accident which claimed the life of a young man.

The teenager, who has yet to be named by police, died after losing control of his Peugeot car which then hit a tree.

He suffered serious injuries, and was taken by ambulance to Macclesfield District General Hospital, where he was certified dead on arrival.

The accident happened at 7.48am on Monday on the outskirts of Congleton, just beyond the West Heath part of town.

A Cheshire police spokesman said the man who died comes from the Sandbach area, and was aged between 17 and 20.

He had not been named by the police as the Congleton GUARDIAN went to press, as the teenager's relatives were being informed.

A post-mortem examination was due to be carried out this week.

The accident happened at the junction of Chelford Road and Blackfirs Lane, and there was no other vehicle involved.

Firefighters from Congleton Fire Station were called out, and had to use cutting equipment to remove one of the sides of the car to free the young driver.

One of the firefighters who was called out said that the car had hit a tree and ended up in a hedge.

Paramedics attended the scene, and the road was closed for several hours.

"We are issuing a witness appeal to anyone who saw the events leading up to the accident, or were on those roads at the time," said a police spokesman.

Witnesses to the accident are asked to ring the traffic department at Northwich Police Station on 01606-48000.