FIVE teenagers were lucky to escape with their lives after their car careered out of control and crashed into a church wall.

The four boys and one girl were travelling towards Radcliffe when the driver lost control of the red Rover Metro in Stand Lane, Radcliffe, close to the junction with New Road.

The car collided with a wall outside the New Life Pentecostal church. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene at 10.30pm on Saturday night. Two boys, aged 17 and 18, were trapped in the back seat. It took 10 firefighters more than one hour to free them.

The roof had to be cut off and the front seats removed. The 18-year-old was the most seriously injured and was taken to the Royal Bolton Hospital with head and pelvic injuries.

The 17-year-old was taken to Fairfield Hospital, Bury, with head and leg injuries.

The 19-year-old driver was also taken to Fairfield suffering abdominal injuries.

All three remained in hospital on Monday but none of the injuries are believed to be life threatening.

Two other passengers, a male, aged 19, and a female, aged 17, were taken to Fairfield with minor injuries, but were discharged later that night.