THREE friends died after their car hit a lamppost and another was fighting for her life in hospital last night.

Police believe the driver of the red Peugeot hatchback, which flipped on to its roof, lost control at 3.15pm on Saturday.

Witnesses raced to help but 38-year-old Helen Openshaw, from Farnworth, Bolton, died at the scene.

Lee Amos, 39, also from Farnworth, and Roy O'Brien, 33, from the Ainsworth area of the town, were cut free from the wreckage, but died later in hospital.

Another passenger, a 25-year-old woman from Horwich, Bolton, was said to be in a critical condition at Royal Blackburn Hospital. Inspector Damian Kitchen of ­Lancashire police said: "This is an extremely tragic incident that will have an impact on a number of families.

"A number of children have lost parents and the thoughts of officers and emergency services that attended are with them."

Insp Kitchen said no other cars were involved in the accident, which closed the road in Darwen, Lancs, for four hours.

However, a pregnant woman in another vehicle had to be treated for shock.

Restaurant manager Graham Tsang who saw the crash said: "It happened right outside. It was not a nice thing to see. My condolences go out to the families."