Dominic Matthew Loftus died when the BMW he was travelling in came off the road near Penrith at 11.30 last night.

Police said the car collided with a hedgerow and a dry stone wall on the B5288 between Greystoke and Motherby.

Mr Loftus, 22, from Penrith, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The car driver and two other passengers, all male, were seriously injured.

The 23-year-old driver from Penrith was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle, with non life-threatening injuries, said police.

A man, aged 22, from Watermillock, was taken to a Newcastle hospital with serious injuries while a 21-year-old, from Penrith, was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary, where he is said to be in a critical condition.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the collision and appeal for any witnesses to contact Cumbria Police on 101 and ask for PC Lisa Teasdale at the Northern Roads Policing Unit.