A man has been charged with aggravated vehicle taking in connection with a car crash which claimed the lives of two teenagers.

The 19-year-old Bradford man, who police have not yet named, was also facing a charge of burglary when he appeared before magistrates today.

Detective Inspector John Priestley, of Bradford North police, confirmed the Crown Prosecution Service had started criminal proceedings against the man.

Two fifteen-year-olds, a male driver and a female passenger, were killed when a stolen car they were in crashed in Thornton. Poignant messages have been left at the scene in Kipping Lane, including one from the parents of the dead boy.

The charges faced by the 19-year-old relate to the theft of a silver Peugeot 206 car from outside a home in Thornton. The car later spun off the road and crashed into a building, then into two other cars, a black Volkswagen Polo and a blue MG ZR, parked in Kipping Lane.

Fire crews from Bradford and Fairweather Green spent 30 minutes cutting the teenage boy and girl from the twisted wreckage of the car.

Paramedics battled to save their lives but their efforts were in vain and the two teenagers were pronounced dead.

The 19-year-old man was arrested at the scene and taken for questioning by police.

Meanwhile, the grieving friends and relatives of the crash victims laid bouquets of flowers paying tribute to the teenagers, who were both from Bradford.

One card, from the parents of the driver of the car, known only as Isaac, reads: "To our beautiful son, with the angels. We will always love you, forever in our thoughts. God bless, Mum and Dad."

Another reads: "I'm so sorry, I love you lots always remember that, I will never forget you, Tasha."

Villagers in the tight-knit community of Thornton were still in shock following the fatal crash, which happened at at 10.20pm on Friday.

Joanne Hay, who works at Thornton Flower Shop, in Thornton Road, Thornton, said: "I heard the sirens so I knew something was going off, but I only heard the gossip the next morning. It's a tight-knit community but how it hits people depends on your view."

Sarah Ambler, an assistant at Thornton Road sandwich shop, said: "The parents must be devastated. My daughter's 14 and you let them go out but that's it, they'll never see them again. It's so sad."

Alf Jax, who works at The Black Horse pub, in West Lane, Thornton, said: "It's very sad that more children have been lost like this, but now is not the time for talking."

Bradford Coroner Roger Whittaker has been informed of the deaths and an inquest will be opened to find out how the two teenagers died.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the accident, or the car before the crash, to contact Bradford North CID on 0845 6060606.