Two young women die in road crash

Workmen clear the road as police examine the scene

Two young women have been killed in a road accident at Portrush in County Antrim. A man arrested has been released pending further enquiries.

The women, both from Rasharkin, were 23-year-old Claire Wakelam, and mother of two, Lisa McFerran, 25.

They were on their way home just after 0200 GMT when the car they were in stopped at the side of the Ballybogey Road and they got out.

Moments later three cars collided and the women were killed.

Four others involved in the incident are not thought to have been injured.

The women lived a few yards from each other in Carfinton Park, Rasharkin.

Lisa McFerran's daughters were aged three and seven.

Her friend Claire Wakelam, who was originally from England but had relatives in the area, was the partner of Lisa's brother.

The road had to be closed for almost twelve hours as the scene of the accident was examined and cleared.

Police want anyone who saw the crash to get in touch.

The deaths bring the total of people killed on Northern Ireland's road this year to 120.