The woman and seven-year-old daughter who died after a road traffic accident in Newtownards, County Down were Heather and Catherine Burnside from Comber.

Seven other people, including Mrs Burnside's teenage daughter and her son are being treated for their injuries in hospital.

They are all said to be in a comfortable condition.

Mrs Burnside was a police officer who played a key role in a new auto crime unit in west Belfast.

Kieran McCarthy: Described stretch of road as "treacherous"

The accident, which involved three cars, happened in Newtownards at 1700 GMT on Sunday.

It occurred on the Comber Road at its junction with Lansdowne Road.

The stretch of road has been described as "treacherous" by Alliance assembly member Kieran McCarthy.

He said the Roads Service needed to look at it.

Catherine Burnside went to Andrews Memorial primary in Comber.

Staff at the school said they were stunned by what had happened.

Classmates of the seven-year-old later laid flowers at the scene of the crash.

The police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the accident to contact them.