Darwen crash victims were three friends from Bolton

Three people from Bolton who were killed when their car crashed in Lancashire have been named by police.

The red Peugeot they were travelling in overturned and hit a lamp-post on the A666 Bolton Road in Darwen on Saturday.

Helen Openshaw, 38, from Farnworth, died at the scene and Roy O'Brien, 33, from Ainsworth, and Lee Amos, 39, from Farnworth, died shortly afterwards.

A 25-year-old woman from Horwich remains critically ill in hospital, Lancashire Police said.

The road was closed in both directions while police investigated the crash, which happened in broad daylight at 15:30 BST.

A number of children have lost parents in this incident”

Friends and relatives of those who died visited the scene on Sunday laying tributes.

Insp Damian Kitchen said: "This is an extremely tragic incident in which three friends have lost their lives and another is critically ill.

"A number of children have lost parents in this incident and the thoughts of the investigating officers and all the emergency services that attended are with the families and friends of all four people at this difficult time.

"The force road policing unit have set up an investigation team which includes trained family liaison officers who are proving support and advice to the families.

"We are still in the early stages of the investigation and are trying to establish the circumstances of exactly what has happened.

"I would appeal to anybody that witnessed the collision itself or anyone that saw the red Peugeot with four people on board prior to the collision to contact us."