TWO toddlers who died when travelling in a police car were unlawfully killed, an inquest found yesterday.

Neza Price, four, and sister Claudette, two, suffered head injuries when the police car was involved in a collision with a Renault people carrier.

PC Michael Austin had been ferrying the children to a refuge in Consett, along with Neza's twin brother, Sid, and their mother, Shelleen. They had been living at Coundon Grange caravan park.

None of the family had been wearing seatbelts when the Renault, driven by the husband of an off-duty policewoman, skidded on ice as it overtook another car, and smashed into the police vehicle on the A68, near Witton-le-Wear.

But North Durham Coroner Andrew Tweddle instructed the jury not to give weight to the fact the children were not strapped in, or the state of the roads on Boxing Day 1999, when the accident happened.

He reminded them of evidence given earlier from traffic accident reconstruction expert Peter Sorton, who said, in his opinion, the driver of the Renault, Aaron Robertson, was driving dangerously.

Mr Sorton told the jury at Durham County Court: "On that section of the road, the greatest care must be taken due to the position of the junction. In normal circumstances, one would have to be careful overtaking on hatchings. That could be construed as careless driving.

"The very poor surface in the middle of the road was visible to Mr Robertson, and he committed himself to overtaking with the knowledge that ice was on the road.

"That's beyond careless driving. That's dangerous driving."

A file was submitted by police to the Crown Prosecution Service, but no charges were brought against Mr Robertson.

He was not in court to hear the decision.

A police spokesman said the prosecution service would be taking note of the verdict.

He also said that all stations now had access to child seats.

"As far as we are concerned, lessons have been learned and practices and procedures have been changed," he said.

"Finally, we would just like to say our sympathies remain with Mrs Price and her family."

Police driver PC Austin, said he was happy with the verdict.

Speaking on behalf of the Price family, solicitor John Calladine said they hoped the Crown Prosecution Service would take note of the verdict, and added that Mrs Price would now seek compensation.