Three young people have died and a fourth is seriously ill after their car crashed during a police pursuit.

The two men and one woman were killed when their Vauxhall Vectra struck a garden wall in Oldham, Greater Manchester in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A second woman in the car survived the crash and was taken to hospital where her condition is described as critical.

The victims have not yet been named but an officer described them as "quite young" in age and said their car was travelling at a "considerable" speed when the collision took place.

Greater Manchester Police said a police patrol earlier attempted to stop the car in Oldham town centre but the driver made off and the officer began a pursuit.

The crash happened shortly afterwards in Middleton Road, Chadderton.

A spokeswoman said "The matter has now been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission."

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.