A school is in mourning for two of its teenage pupils, who died in a high speed crash while being followed by police.

Darren Franey and Scott Veach, both 14, died when the Vauxhall Vectra they were driving hit a lorry at the Liverpool exit of the Kingsway Tunnel, which runs beneath the River Mersey.

The boys, from the Kensington and Broadgreen areas of Liverpool, are thought to have died instantly in the crash on Saturday morning.

The incident has been voluntarily referred by Merseyside Police to the independent Police Complaints Authority (PCA) for investigation.

Special assembly

The boys' headteacher Ian Andain, of Broadgreen Comprehensive School, said pupils were "stunned" by the tragedy.

Mr Andain said: "We are all very shocked at the news. Both boys were in year 10 and in the middle of their GCSE courses. Everybody is stunned.

"Next week we will hold a special assembly in memory of the boys."

Police officers were following the car at about 0400 GMT on Saturday as it entered the Mersey tunnel from the Wirral.

The boys had to be cut free from the wreckage.

Car abandoned

The car driven by the boys - a silver Vauxhall Vectra - was one of two cars followed into the Mersey Tunnel from the Wirral by police.

A second Vauxhall Vectra, which went through the tunnel at the same time as the crashed car, was later found abandoned in the Water Street area of Liverpool city centre.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ken Bridson and Wendy Towers from the PCA have met the families of the two teenagers.

Police are appealing for those in the second Vectra to contact them.