INQUESTS into the deaths of two teenagers killed in a horror smash in Bradford on Tuesday night were formally opened yesterday.

Ather Ayaz, and Mohammed Hamza Ali, both 18, died when the red Honda Civic they were travelling in left the road and struck a bollard and the corner of a building in Manningham Lane at its junction with Hamilton Street.

During a brief hearing at Bradford Coroner's Court, Coroner Oliver Longstaff confirmed that both men had been pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, Mr Ali at 7.37pm, and Mr Ayaz a minute later.

The court also heard that Mr Ayaz, of Masham Place, Bradford, had been the driver of the car, and Mr Ali, of Toller Lane, Bradford, had been travelling as a passenger.

Mr Longstaff said the bodies of both men had been identified by family members, a cousin in each case.

He added he was "satisfied" that no other evidence was required to confirm the identity of the bodies, which he formally released to allow funerals to take place.

The inquests were adjourned to allow an ongoing police investigation into the incident to continue.

The funerals of the two teenagers, both pupils at Belle Vue Boys' School, in Heaton, took place at Toller Lane mosque yesterday afternoon, and tributes continue to be paid to the pair, said to "best friends" by their families, on social media.

Police are still trying to piece together what happened in the run-up to the crash, described by local councillor Ishtiaq Ahmed (Ind, Manningham) as an "absolute waste of two young lives."

Officers believe the Honda had been involved in an "incident" with a silver Audi A4 shortly before it left the road.

A man and a woman, both aged 20, who are understood to have been in the Audi, were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and later released on bail as investigations continue.

Sergeant Ann Drury, of the Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: "Our enquiries into this collision are still at an early stage, and we would appeal for anyone who witnessed it, or the movements of the vehicle prior to it, to contact police on 101."