TWO women from the North-East were killed when a car ploughed into them as they walked home with friends after a night out.

The victims were among a group of four women who were hit by a white BMW which mounted the pavement while being chased by police in Willow Lane, Huddersfield.

One of the women, who had been laughing and joking together in a pub minutes before, died at the scene and one died later in hospital. Another woman is in a critical condition in Leeds General Infirmary.

The fourth, who was extremely shocked but suffered only minor injuries, returned home to Chester-le-Street, County Durham, yesterday to be with her parents.

Last night, West Yorkshire Police were releasing only sketchy details about the victims while they continued the grim task of informing relatives.

The dead women were named as 28-year-old Angela Ovington and Susan Briggs, 30, who were living in the Birkby area of Huddersfield.

Ms Ovington, a schoolteacher, was originally from Chester-le-Street, while Ms Briggs, an NHS worker, was from the Durham area.

The woman badly injured in the crash was Victoria Fisher, 27, a teacher also living in Birkby and originally from the North-West.

The woman who returned home to the North-East was 28-year-old Louise Tinkler.

Her three friends were said to have recently moved to Huddersfield, and had just left the Slubbers Arms when the accident happened.

Pub landlord Norman Johnson said: "They were in for about 90 minutes. They seemed very friendly, laughing and joking and having a good night out.

"We only heard later that they'd died minutes after leaving the pub."

The car, which appears to have gone out of control on a left-hand bend, finally stopped after hitting a wall about 200ft away.

A 39-year-old local man was arrested and was last night being questioned by officers.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that immediately before the accident, officers in a marked patrol car had spoken to the male driver of a BMW 5-Series.

His female passenger got out and left the scene, which was in Huddersfield's red light district.

The driver then sped off before the officers could speak to him further.

The spokesman said: "The BMW was seen to travel at speed on to Willow Lane.

"The police vehicle initially followed it, but lost sight of it as it entered Willow Lane. It was then involved in a serious road traffic accident."

Police said the incident had been voluntarily referred to the Police Complaints Authority.

Willow Lane resident Alison Mellor, 27, said she saw a white BMW going "very fast", followed closely by police.

She said she did not hear a crash but the police helicopter was called and appeared to be hovering directly overhead.

Two bouquets have been laid at the scene of the accident.

One, of white lilies, bears a card which simply says: "Vic and Ang. Thinking of you. Lesley xxx.