An 11-year-old girl has died after a horrific crash when the car she was in broke down on the way back from an Easter trip to the seaside.

Natasha Barker died in hospital from the injuries she suffered when three vehicles ploughed into the car on a busy dual carriageway near Malton.

Three others who were in the car with her were injured in the accident on Easter Monday.

The four - all from Bradford - were travelling in a red Mercedes-Benz 190 saloon. The car had broken down and was parked at the edge of the busy A64 dual carriageway, near to Malton, North Yorkshire, when it was hit.

The car had been pulled over to the side of the inside lane and was parked half on the verge when it was struck by an articulated lorry and two cars towing caravans just after 1pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

Natasha, who had been sitting in the back of the car when it was hit, suffered severe head injuries and was flown by air ambulance to Leeds General Infirmary. She died there later that night.

Natasha, of Charteris Road, Lower Grange, was travelling with Richard Grant, Mandy Grant and her best friend, 11-year-old Chloe Gray, of Raven Terrace, Lower Grange.

They were taken to York District Hospital with slight injuries. All three were discharged from hospital yesterday.

Today, Natasha's parents Marion Hudson, 34, and Martin Barker, 37, said they had been left numb by their daughter's death.

Mr Barker said Natasha and Chloe had been best friends in the same class at Rhodesway School, in Allerton, and Natasha had jumped at the chance of going away for the Bank Holiday weekend with Chloe's family.

"It was a last minute thing," he said. "She was so excited."

He said they were on their way back when the accident happened.

The Mercedes had been driving in the outside lane towards York, on the Malton bypass beneath the Pickering interchange, when it began having mechanical problems. The car slowed down but began going again and the driver managed to pull it over to the inside lane and come to a stop.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the car pulling over. They particularly want to hear from the occupants of two vehicles, a white caravanette and a car towing a caravan, who may have seen the accident.

They say that many people were making their way home from the seaside at the time of the tragedy and would like to hear from anyone from West Yorkshire who saw what happened.

Natasha's mum, Marion, said Chloe's mum had called her from the hospital to tell her there had been an accident. The whole family, including Natasha's sisters Jodie, 13, and Chantelle, 14, were devastated and no-one had been able to sleep since Monday.

"She was a lovely, lovely girl. She was so beautiful," said dad Martin.

"What's happened hasn't kicked in yet. We feel nothing, we just feel numb. We're waiting to hear from the coroner about what happens next."

Traffic Constable Daniel Spence, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "It was a particularly horrific accident due to the fact it involved a family and young children."

Anyone who can help is asked to ring North Yorkshire Police on (01723) 509555.