A COMMUNITY was last night trying to come to terms with the shock of a double death tragedy on a village road.

The accident, at Annfield Plain, near Stanley, County Durham, claimed the lives of two local teenagers and left two other young men from the area in hospital with serious injuries.

Only one car was involved in the tragedy, which took place in wet conditions, on the road between Shield Row and South View, Annfield Plain. The blue Citroen ZX Avantage is said to have gone out of control, hitting a lamp-post and and a wall on Friday night.

The driver, 17-year-old Lee Darren Craggs, of South View Gardens, Annfield Plain, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Passenger John Gary Robson, 18, of Coronation Terrace, New Kyo, was dead on arrival at the University Hospital of North Durham.

Two other passengers, both aged 20, were detained over the weekend.

Their injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Families of the victims were being comforted by relatives over the weekend.

The grandfather of Mr Robson said yesterday: "My heart goes out to all four families involved."

Michelle Hodgson, the county councillor for Annfield Plain, said: "I feel such sympathy for everyone involved.

"You can't imagine what they must be going through.

"Lots of people in the community are feeling this tragic loss.

"It's awful at any time, but at this particular time of year it just seems to make it that much worse."

Durham Police last night renewed appeals for information from witnesses to the crash, which took place shortly after 9pm on Friday, to call 0191-375 2159.