Three teenagers and a man in his 50s have been killed in a head-on collision between a taxi and a car, police have said.

The drivers of both cars are among those who died, while five passengers were also injured in the crash, which happened at about 00:45 GMT on Wigan Road, Bolton.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the taxi driver was in a dark Citroen, while the three teenagers, two aged 18 and the other 19, were in a red Seat.

Firefighters used cutting equipment to remove people, including the five passengers who were taken to hospital for treatment.

GMP’s Ch Insp Helen McCormick described it as a “devastating incident”.

“This was a particularly challenging scene for colleagues in the emergency services and I want to thank the first responders.”

The casualties have yet to be formally identified.

Councillor Ayyub Patel, who represents the local ward of Rumworth, told BBC Radio Manchester that the victims’ relatives were “devastated”.

“The community was waking up to this very sad news, they are shocked – the mood is sombre.

“Any loss of life in any family is devastating news and to wake up to such tragic news is more so than expected.

“If it’s expected, you know what’s coming but if it’s not expected, then obviously it’s a shocking experience.”

McCormick said: “This is a tragic reminder of the importance of safety on our roads across Greater Manchester and here in Bolton, where plenty of work has been done, and continues, to try and ensure our roads are safe for all.”

She said the number of serious and fatal collisions in Bolton had “massively reduced…but we’ve all got much more to do”.

“One incident is one too many and they’ll do nothing to bring back the four lives lost here today,” she said.

GMP has appealed for any information about the crash.