Two teenagers died and two friends suffered serious injuries in a road crash earlier today.

The four friends, all in their late teens, were on the A19 dual carriageway, near Hartlepool, Teesside, when their Vauxhall Astra overturned.

The red P-reg car was heading north when it left the road, flipped over and ploughed into trees.

Two of the youngsters, one man and one woman, both in their late teens, died at the scene.

A man aged 18 and a young woman, also aged 18, suffered severe injuries.

The man was today fighting for his life in Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital where his condition was "critical but stable."

The woman was taken to Sunderland Eye Infirmary where she was being treated.

Police said no other car was involved in the incident and have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.