POLICE have charged a man with causing the death of three women in a car crash last summer.

Rebecca Learoyd, 18, Megan Robinson, 19 and Anne Peachey, 60, were killed after a collision which took place on Front Street in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, on June 23.

The teenagers, who were both from nearby Thornley, were travelling in a Fiat 500 which collided with a Citroen Xsara being driven by Mrs Peachey.

Megan was the front seat passenger in the Fiat and died from her injuries two days after the crash.

Mrs Peachey’s daughter, Joanne, 33, and her 13-year-old granddaughter, Adele Harland, who was passengers in the Citroen , were both injured and taken to James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. Both were later discharged.

Police arrested the driver of a third car involved in the collision, an MG ZR car on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

This weekend the man, who is from Wingate and was 22 at the time of the crash but has since turned 23, was charged with the offence.

He was then bailed to appear in Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on the morning of Thursday, April 3.

Mrs Peachey of Kell Crescent in Sherburn Hill, near Durham, worked on the help desk at County Hall, Durham, and served as chairman of Shadforth Parish Council for many years.

She was active on Sherburn Hill Environmental Action group, was governor at Sherburn Hill Primary school and an active member of the Sherburn Hill Community Association.

Rebecca was a former student at East Durham College and worked in the restaurant at George Bolam Foods in Sedgefield, County Durham.

An East Durham College student, Megan had completed level one and two certificates in childcare and was still studying mathematics.