TWO 18-year-old girls have been killed in a crash on the A595 near to Bootle.

Police are investigating the incident, which happened at 7.55pm yesterday.

The collision involved a green Toyota Yaris travelling from the Millom direction, and a white Ford Transit Connect van travelling in the opposite direction.

The driver and the front seat passenger of the Toyota, both local girls, aged 18, were pronounced dead at the scene, as a result of injuries sustained in the collision.

An 18-year-old local female, travelling in the rear of the vehicle, was flown by air ambulance to Preston Royal Hospital, where her condition is described as critical.

The 51-year-old, local, male driver of the Ford Transit, was flown by air ambulance to Aintree Hospital, Liverpool, where his condition is described as serious but stable.

The road was closed for six hours as a result of the collision to allow officers to examine the scene and recover the vehicles.

Any witnesses to the collision are asked to contact Cumbria Police on 101, email 101@cumbria.police.uk