10-year-old among five dead in crash

Five people, including a 10-year-old child, have died in a two-car crash in Merseyside.

Four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene in Wirral, ambulance officials said. A 64-year-old woman was taken to hospital with multiple injuries but later died.

Police said a blue Renault Megane and a silver Vauxhall Corsa were involved in the crash in Poulton, yesterday at 11.45am.

It is understood one of the cars veered off the link road to the M53 and hit a wall before it rebounded head-on into the other car.

A Mersey Region Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Two adults and the child were in one car and two adults were in the other vehicle."

Merseyside Police said it could not provide any further details of the deceased until next of kin were informed.

Two teenagers critically hurt when a car crashed into a group of young people walking home were today continuing to fight for their lives, police said.

The 14-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy suffered head and multiple injuries respectively. Both are in "serious, life-threatening" conditions.

Six other teenagers hurt in the crash in Thorpe Bay, Essex, late on Friday remain in hospital with head, leg and pelvic injuries. Police said all were "stable".

A red Citroen C1 was thought to have gone out of control and hit the youngsters who were returning from a night out in Southend.

Police have been given more time to question a boy of 17 from Southend held on suspicion of dangerous driving.