Two young men from Witney who died after their car hit a tree near Chipping Norton have been identified.

The accident happened at about 7.45pm last night when a blue Rover 214 was travelling along the B4450 Churchill Road.

A spokesman for Oxford Coroner's Office said those who died were driver Lee Parker, 28, of Morland Road, Witney, and passenger Paul Turner, 23, from Green Lane, North Leigh, near Witney.

Mr Turner was thrown from the vehicle during the crash and both were pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest into the deaths was opened and adjourned this afternoon.

The car was travelling from Churchill village towards Chipping Norton, when it left the road and collided with a tree.

A second passenger thrown from the car, a man in his 20s from Chipping Norton, was taken to Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, where his condition is described as serious but stable.

The road was closed until about 1am to allow traffic officers to investigate the crash.

Pc Roger Marshall, from Bicester roads policing department, said: "I'm appealing to anyone who saw a blue Rover 214 travelling in the vicinity of Churchill or Chipping Norton area around the time in question, or anyone who witnessed the collision, to contact me as soon as possible."

Call Pc Marshall on 08458 505505 or speak anonymously to Crimestoppers 0800 555111.