A community is in shock after two teenagers died following a motorcycle crash in County Durham on Friday.

Police have confirmed today (Sunday) that two males died after the collision on Middridge Road, Rushyford, near Newton Aycliffe on Friday (July 5). They are believed to have been riding on the same motorcyle.

Emergency services, including the Great North Air Ambulance, were called to the scene of a collision at noon on Friday.

One of the teenagers died at the scene, while the other was taken to hospital where he later died. 

Councillor Dorothy Bowman, of Great Aycliffe Town Council, said: "It's terribly sad. I have known them since they were toddlers. They both came to my playgroup - the Newton Aycliffe Junior Neighbourhood Watch playgroup.

"I looked after them and played with them. I never had a wrong word from them, or any problems with them and I have been with them for years - one is now 13 and the other 17 years old." 

She added: "I last saw them on Thursday or Friday afternoon. There is a lot of space and they often come down here with their motorbike."

A Durham Police spokesperson said: "Two males have sadly died following a collision in Rushyford.

"Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on Middridge Road, near to the Rushyford roundabout, shortly before noon on Friday, July 5.

"One male was pronounced dead at the scene, and a second was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

"Both males are believed to have been travelling on the same motorcycle.

"Their families have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

No-one else was injured.

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A NEAS spokesperson said earlier: “We received a call at 12pm on Friday (5 July) to reports of a road traffic incident on the Rushyford roundabout.

"We dispatched four ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, a specialist paramedic, a crew from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

"One patient was taken by road to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.”

Middridge Road and part of the A689 were closed for several hours while enquiries were carried out, but both had reopened by Friday evening.

Anyone with any information or dashcam footage relating to the incident is asked to contact Durham Constabulary Serious Collision Investigation Unit via sciu@durham.police.uk or on 101, quoting incident number 144 of July 5.