Town's sorrow after four die

Officers examine the wreckage of one of the cars

Prayers have been said for the victims of a car crash in Ayrshire in which three teenagers and a woman were killed.

Teenagers Stewart Wallace, Fraser McKenzie and Alyson Craig died when their car collided with one driven by 59-year-old Mary Duffy on Sunday night.

The crash on the A77 road near Girvan injured three others and has shocked people in the seaside town.

Police, who have launched an investigation into the cause of the tragedy, said the scale of devastation resulted from a "significant amount of speed".

I said mass immediately yesterday morning for the ones that were injured and the ones that died. Canon Eugene Mathews

The crash happened at about 2115BST two miles north of Girvan when an Astra which was travelling south collided with a Volkswagen Polo.

Astra driver Mr Wallace, 17, Ballantrae, Frazer McKenzie, 16, and 14-year-old Alyson Craig, both from Girvan, were killed.

Mary Duffy, 59, from Girvan, who was driving the Polo which was travelling in the opposite direction, was also killed.

Mrs Duffy's 11-year-old granddaughter Caitlin and family friend May Sneddon, 75, were in the car and were taken to Ayr Hospital. Their injuries were not thought to be serious.

Mark Ferguson, 26, who was a front-seat passenger in the Astra, was seriously injured and also taken to Ayr Hospital, where his condition was described as "stable".

Canon Eugene Mathews, from Girvan's Sacred Heart Church, which Mrs Duffy attended, said prayers were being said for the dead and injured.

Police said it was a high impact crash

He said: "I said mass immediately yesterday morning for the ones that were injured and the ones that died.

"There's a great fraternal spirit between the churches in this town and I'm sure over the next few days and weeks all will remember them."

A friend of Mrs Duffy, who did not wish to be identified, said she was well known in the church community

He said: "She's been to Lourdes something like 17 times.

"We have got some calls from all over Britain from people that we never even knew of who say that she has had an impact on their life."

A senior policeman said the crash was the worst he had seen in a career spanning 27 years.

Girvan Academy headteacher Roy Birnie said: "This tragedy has obviously had a deep impact not only in Girvan Academy but also on the whole community and surrounding areas.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones at this very difficult time."