A car failed to stop for police shortly before it struck a lampost and tree, killing two men who were travelling in it.

The local men, who were killed in the incident in Wyke, are believed to be brothers.

The impact of the collision in Woodside Road just before midnight was so forceful it split the black Ford Focus in two, killing a 31-year-old and a 27-year-old.

Their families have been informed.

A police spokesman said the car had earlier passed a police patrol car in Manchester Road but failed to stop at the request of officers using blue lights.

“The car went out of sight, leaving the area. Soon after a member of the public rang to report the collision. On arrival of police at the scene it was established it was the same car that had been reported in and not stopped,” he added.

The incident will now be referred as routine by West Yorkshire Police to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Residents have described hearing screeching tyres then a loud bang before lights from a police helicopter started flashing above their homes.

Three fire crews from Bradford and Brighouse, a collision team, patrol cars and a fleet of ambulances were at the scene until the early hours.

Police are still guarding part of the road that was strewn with debris - a smashed lampost lying close to wreckage of the car in the trees.