A UK-registered car crashed into trees after coming off a road in central Germany, killing four people. The victims - a man (32) and three women (30, 31 and 32) - were said to be two couples, and tragically died at the scene of the accident.

The car was driving along the L3229 road between Reinhardshagen-Veckerhagen and Grebensteinin, when it careered off the road as it went round a left-hand bend at around midnight on Friday. It crashed through trees before finally coming to a stop nearly 30 metres from the road. Police said the victims were not German and officers are currently trying to establish their identities and nationalities. However the car had UK licence plates and a steering wheel on the right hand side. 

Images taken in the aftermath of the horrific accident show the battered car lying on its side with its windscreen smashed.

A spokeswoman for the local police later issued a statement, saying: "A four-passenger car was traveling on the L3229 country road.

"Upon entering a left-hand bend after a downhill gradient, the vehicle veered off the road to the right for unknown reasons and only came to a stop approximately 30 metres further on in the woods after colliding with trees on the left side of the vehicle.

"Despite the immediate rescue and recovery efforts, the four vehicle occupants died at the scene of the accident. We are currently treating this as a tragic accident."

Locals were left in shock following the accident, with some speculating that the crash could have been caused by a wild animal running on to the road.

One said: "Wildlife is a huge problem on this stretch. If a big boar runs in front of your car, you don't stand a chance."

Another said the driver could have been deceived by the slope, and ended up going too fast before losing control.

"When you drive downhill there, it tempts you to go too fast and subsequently go off the road," they said.