Three people were killed and a fourth seriously injured today when a car hit a tree and burst into flames, police said.

The tragedy happened just before 1am when the Seat Cordoba car clipped a kerb and crashed into a tree in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead, Tyneside.

Northumbria Police said the Cordoba was the only vehicle involved in the incident.

Police were trying to establish the identity of the victims but could only say they are believed to be two women and one man. A back seat passenger, a 26-year-old local man, was rescued from the car and taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary where he has been detained with serious burns.

A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: ''It is believed the car mounted a nearside kerb and collided with a tree before catching fire.

''Police are trying to establish the identity of the people, believed to be two women and one man.

''At the present time a full accident investigation is ongoing.''