The crash happened on the Beverley Road in Hull a year ago

Sentence was adjourned for reports on Robert McCartney, 24, and David Rogerson, 22, who admitted causing the death of the four by dangerous driving.

The men - who did not know each other - were over the drink limit and playing cat-and-mouse when they crashed in February 2005, Hull Crown Court heard.

Judge Michael Mettyear told them to prepare for a long custodial sentence.

The court heard Kimberley Brown and Rachel Thomas, both 17, and Laura Hill, 16, were travelling home in the early hours after an evening out last year with another friend, Karen Bunting, 18, in the car of her fiancee, Rogerson.

'Blatant disregard'

They all died in the crash in Hull's Beverley Road, and Rogerson lost half a leg after his car hit a tree while racing McCartney, who also crashed.

Both were found to be over the legal drink-drive limit, the judge heard. They raced each other for two miles at speeds often twice over the limit.

Inspector Roger Mitchell of Humberside Police said outside court: "This is a tragic death of four young girls.

"David Rogerson and Robert McCartney engaged in a prolonged and persistent act of dangerous driving, during which they displayed a blatant disregard for the safety of others.

"Both of these men clearly made a choice to drive knowing that they were under the influence of alcohol. This incident clearly highlights the dangers of drink driving."