THREE people who died in a car crash were named yesterday.

The accident, which happened on Shields Road, Bill Quay, Gateshead, in the early hours of Monday morning, has been described by senior firefighters as one of the most horrific they have ever dealt with.

The car hit a tree and exploded, killing three people and seriously injuring a fourth.

The victims were all from Gateshead and were Scott Castlehow, 20, from Longrigg, Laura Howson, 19, from Kells Way and Susan Kay Lee, also known as Susan Richardson, 23, from Lecondale.

The surviving victim was pulled from his car by resident Craig Barrow, who heard the crash from his bedroom. The man is now in a critical condition in the high dependency unit of the Royal Victoria Infirmary