Footballer held over death crash

The arrested man is believed to be Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick

A professional footballer has been arrested after two boys were killed in a crash on the M6 in Staffordshire.

The brothers, aged eight and 10, from the Manchester area, died after a Toyota Previa went down an embankment after a collision with a Range Rover.

Plymouth Argyle said it was "aware of an incident" involving a player.

The arrested man, believed to be Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick, is being held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Club statement

The 37-year-old driver of the Previa people carrier, the boys' father, is in a serious condition in hospital.

The crash happened between junctions 15 and 16 of the motorway near Keele services at shortly before 0545 BST on Saturday.

The three other occupants of the people carrier - a 49-year-old man and his sons, aged eight and 15 - were treated in hospital for minor injuries.

The six are from the Manchester area and they were travelling to Silverstone in Northamptonshire when the crash happened, Staffordshire Police said.

They are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time Plymouth Argyle statement

The man arrested at the scene of the crash was the driver of the Range Rover, and he was not hurt in the collision, police said.

The motorway was closed southbound between junctions 16 and 15 following the incident and reopened at lunchtime on Saturday.

One boy was pronounced dead at the scene and the other died at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

In a statement, Plymouth Argyle said: "The club is aware of an incident involving one of our players that occurred on Saturday morning on the M6.

"As the incident is subject to police inquiries, the club feels it would be inappropriate to make any comment at this stage."

Later the club added that it wished to send its condolences the family and friends of the two boys who have died.

"They are very much in our thoughts and prayers at this sad time," the club said.

Luke McCormick is a former England youth international and was twice voted the club's young player of the season.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Central Motorways Police Group.