Four people killed in car crash

Firefighters had to remove three bodies from the wreckage

Four people were killed when a car crashed into a tree in Cheshire.

The accident happened on the A540 Chester High Road near Neston in the early hours.

Two men and two women, all thought to be aged in their early 20s and from the Neston area, died in the crash, Cheshire Police said.

Fire fighters took several hours to remove three of the bodies from the wreckage. The other person was thrown clear. The road remains closed.

The car was travelling towards Wirral when the accident happened at about 0200 BST close to the junction of The Runnel.

The A540 remains closed between The Runnell and Boathouse Lane.

Search for clues

A police spokeswoman said: "Investigations are ongoing and the road is likely to remain closed until mid-morning.

"We are working to identify the victims and inform next-of-kin."

The incident happened not far past a sign warning motorists there had been 59 collisions at the spot in the last three years.

The car, which was upside-down in the middle of the road, was severely compressed after overturning onto its roof.

Forensic officers have been examining nearby bushes and fields at the side of the road searching for clues to the cause.