Two teenage boys, aged 13 and 17, have been killed after the motorbike they were travelling on crashed at a busy roundabout.
Emergency services were called to Middridge Road in Rushyford, County Durham, at around midday on Friday following reports of a collision.
The Great North Air Ambulance also responded but, despite the best efforts of medics, one of the boys died at the scene.
The other was then transported to hospital where they later died.
Police said they believe the teens had been travelling on the same motorcycle at the time of the crash.
Councillor Dorothy Bowman, of Great Aycliffe Town Council, said: ‘It’s terribly sad.
‘I have known them since they were toddlers. They both came to my playgroup – the Newton Aycliffe Junior Neighbourhood Watch playgroup.
‘I looked after them and played with them. I never had a wrong word from them, or any problems with them and I have been with them for years – one is now 13 and the other 17 years old.’
A Durham Police spokesperson said: ‘Two males have sadly died following a collision in Rushyford.
‘Emergency services were called to reports of a collision on Middridge Road, near to the Rushyford roundabout, shortly before noon on Friday, July 5.
‘One male was pronounced dead at the scene, and a second was taken to hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after.
‘Both males are believed to have been travelling on the same motorcycle.
‘Their families have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.’
No-one else was injured during the accident.
A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: ‘We received a call at 12pm on Friday (5 July) to reports of a road traffic incident on the Rushyford roundabout.
‘We dispatched four ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, a specialist paramedic, a crew from our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
‘One patient was taken by road to the Royal Victoria Infirmary.’
Middridge Road and part of the A689 were closed for several hours while enquiries were carried out but both had reopened by Friday evening.