THE funeral of a teenager who died in a high speed car crash will take place on Friday.

Liam Richardson, 13, was one of four teenagers in a stolen Vauxhall Astra which careered out of control, overturned and crashed into a fence in West Cornforth, County Durham, on Thursday, January 16.

The car had been taken from outside a house in Ferryhill about 45 minutes before the crash.

Liam, of Raby Road, Ferryhill, suffered multiple injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by a local GP.

The other occupants of the car, aged 13, 14 and 16, all fled the scene, but were later traced.

The 14-year-old, who had been treated in Middlesbrough General Hospital for serious hand injuries received in the accident, has been charged with causing Liam's death by dangerous driving.

He is also accused of aggravated vehicle-taking, driving without insurance, failing to stop after an accident, failing to report and accident and driving without a licence.

He is due to appear at Sedgefield Magistrates' Court, in Newton Aycliffe, next Monday.

Liam's funeral will be held at St Luke's Church, Ferryhill, at 11.30am on Friday, followed by a private burial at nearby Duncombe Cemetery.