TWO men who had been best friends since childhood died when their car spun off the road and hit a tree near Barnoldswick.

Driver Jason Wilkinson, 24, of Fern Street, Colne and front seat passenger Jonathan Alexander, 25, of Keighley Road, Colne, died at the scene.

Mr Alexander's girlfriend Louise Martin, 20, of Every Street, Nelson, who was a back seat passenger, was today in a "poorly but stable" condition in hospital with multiple injuries.

The accident occurred on the B6251 Bracewell Lane, at Bracewell, at 1.34pm on Saturday and police believe the accident involved only one car.

Police said the three people became trapped in the blue H-reg Ford Fiesta after Mr Wilkinson lost control of the vehicle on a right hand bend as he was heading towards the A59. The car left the road, overturned and hit a large tree stump. Miss Martin suffered serious neck and internal injuries and was taken by the North West Air Ambulance to Airedale Hospital, near Ke ighley.

She was later transferred to an intensive care unit at Pinderfields General Hospital, Wakefield, in a critical condition. The road was closed for about two hours while accident investigators were at the scene.

Mr Wilkinson, a labourer for Cross and Lawson builders, Colne, lived with his mother, Joyce. He also leaves a girlfriend Karen Holden. Mr Alexander and Miss Martin worked together at pipe manufacturer LBS in Colne.

Mrs Wilkinson said: "I knew Jonathan and I know Louise because I worked with them and they often came here because Jason had the internet in his bedroom. Jason and Jonathan had been best friends for many years and had grown up together."

Mr Alexander's family was too upset to comment.

Anyone who saw the collision or the car immediately before the crash should contact the road safety unit at Colne on 01282 863161 or the control room on 01282 425001.