A 15-year-old passenger died after a car spun out of control and hit a lamppost and a tree.

Matthew Gale, of Manor Road, Wigan, was thrown from the E-reg Ford Escort into the path of another car on the B5251 New Road, Chorley, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Two other passengers, Raegan Bradly, 20, of School Lane, Standish, and Paul Gaughan, 21, of Haigh Close, Chorley, were detained in Chorley Hospital for treatment.

Police said the accident happened as the car carrying the four young men was travelling from Chorley towards Coppull and overtook an F-registered Ford Escort driven by Michael John Barnard, 31, of St George's Place, Chorley, at speed.

It is believed the driver of the E-reg, 19-year-old David Robert Wood, of Dickens Road, Coppull, lost control on a bend and smashed into a lamppost and a tree and Matthew, who was in the back seat, was thrown into the road.

The car the young men had just overtaken negotiated the same bend and hit Matthew, who was lying in the road.

Mr Wood was detained by police in relation to causing death by dangerous driving and later released on bail pending further inquiries.

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