A THREE-FOOT long machete was found in the car in which two people died, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph has discovered.

And an inquest was told that the car was being driven by a disqualified driver.

Coroner Andre Rebello was told that Barry Tyrie, 21, and Lesley Robert Newbold, 19, died instantly when the 4x4 Ford Sierra smashed into a bus.

Acting Police Sergeant Geoff Bromley, of Accrington Police, said the vehicle had failed to stop at the junction linking Wilpshire Road to Lee Lane in Rishton.

Tyrie, a banned driver, of Whalley Road, Clayton-le-Moors, was at the wheel, and Newbold, of West Park Avenue, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston, was a back seat passenger.

Mr Bromley added: "The vehicle had been spotted in suspicious circumstances near to a detached house in the Longridge area and police were sent to the address.

"The Sierra was seen to leave at high speed and the description was circulated." Mr Bromley said the car was later spotted in Ribchester by a PC on duty in an unmarked car.

He said the occupants appeared to have discovered they were being followed and again escaped at high speed.

He added: "It was not then seen until it was driven on Wilpshire Road when it was seen by a fully marked traffic vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

"By the time the police vehicle had made a three point turn in the road, the Sierra had in fact collided with the bus.

"It wasn't being pursued or followed at the time of the collision."

A traffic investigator has been appointed.

The bodies of the two men were taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary after the accident and formally identified by relatives.

The inquest at Blackburn magistrates' court was adjourned until a future date.

Following the incident two 17-year-old juveniles have been reported for burglary. They have been released on police bail for four weeks.

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