A 21-year-old man has appeared in court for the first time accused of killing a Bolton couple in a car crash.

Sean Connolly, of Stansfield Close, Tonge Moor, is charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of Lisa Halligan and her boyfriend Michael Jefferies.

He appeared before Bolton magistrates yesterday.

Connolly is also accused of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving a vehicle without insurance.

Mother-of-two Miss Halligan, of Daisy Street, Daubhill, and Mr Jefferies, of Bury Road, died instantly after they were thrown from a Mazda MX-5. The car mounted a pavement and crashed into a lamppost in Bradford Street shortly after midnight on May 1.

The car also collided with a group of schoolgirls, three of whom were seriously injured.

The case was sent to the crown court. Connolly was granted unconditional bail until October 21.