TWO drivers who raced through a town's busy streets were branded "highly dangerous and stupid" when they appeared in court.

Several witnesses were so worried about their speed - and the risk to the public - that they alerted police.

Brian Jones, 38, in his Volkswagen Golf was chasing 23-year-old Matthew Clark in a Citroen Saxo through Darlington.

Teesside Crown Court heard Jones's passenger had a beef with Clark and encouraged his friend to pursue him on February 25.

Jones overtook a line of traffic and pulled up in front of Clark when they saw him in the town centre, said prosecutor David Crook.

After a confrontation, the frightened younger man fled in his hatchback from Duke Street, into Woodland Road and Milbank Road.

A woman said she heard both engines revving as they overtook other vehicles, and went over a mini-roundabout on the wrong side.

The 2pm chase went through built-up areas and near schools as they headed to Carmel Road North and Carmel Road South.

Another witness, who was leaving Blackwell post office, told police she heard constantly revving engines and loud exhaust sounds.

She was so concerned she took out her mobile phone and photographed the cars, Mr Crook said.

Michael Bosomworth, for Jones, said the electrician was going through a stressful time with family illness and money troubles.

"He accepts at that time he was irritable, short-tempered and had difficulty sleeping. It was the height of stupidity. He was the chaser but it was not his problem. He was in part encouraged."

Andrew Turton, for unemployed Clark, said he was "a young man in panic" but accepted he should have contacted the police.

"He has, throughout the incident, felt the wronged party," said Mr Turton. "He accepts he did not take the appropriate steps."

Clark, of Adam Street, and Jones, of Whinfield Road, both Darlington, admitted a charge of dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.

Jones was given a 12-month suspended prison sentence with 150 hours of unpaid work, and was banned from the roads for 30 months.

Clark got seven months, suspended for 18 months, with supervision, and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, told them: "This was essentially a race through the streets of Darlington - highly dangerous.

"All the streets would have been busy, there would have been cars and pedestrians about. It was over a significant distance."