AN inquest has opened into the death of a 19-year-old driver of a stolen car who careered into shops in Prestwich.

Bradley Cuthbertson, of Hilton Street, Higher Broughton, was at the wheel of the car, which had been reported stolen, when it went out of control in Bury Old Road.

The vehicle smashed into a bollard and a parked car before crashing into the windows of two shops and splitting in two.

Three teenage passengers in the car suffered serious injuries and are in hospitals in Manchester and Bury, the hearing was told on Tuesday (Feb 12).

Bradley, who was unemployed, was taken to North Manchester Hospital but died in the early hours of the following morning despite emergency treatment. A police investigation is ongoing.

Bury Deputy District Coroner Matthew Cox was told the accident occurred in the late evening of February 6 and inquiries had established that Mr Cuthbertson was the driver of the vehicle. No other vehicles were involved.

A post-mortem had been carried out and samples had been sent off for toxicological analysis.

Officers from Whitefield Police Station, Bury Traffic Unit and the Greater Manchester Police Investigation Unit had attended the scene and would be submitting reports.

Paul Farrelly, deputy coroner's officer, said investigations suggested that Mr Cuthbertson had last been seen by his father on February 5.

Mr Cox adjourned the hearing pending the submission of police reports and further medical enquiries.