THREE young Bolton men were killed instantly today when their high-powered sports car crashed into an electricity sub-station and burst into flames.

The red soft-top Porsche 944 is believed to have gone out of control as it rounded a bend on the outskirts of Bolton at 2.15am.

It clipped a bus shelter, spun across a grass verge, collided backwards into the brick sub-station and flipped on to its roof before bursting into flames on Blackburn Road, Sharples.

The men are all from Bolton and are aged in their mid-20s. Their families were being told of the deaths today. The owner of the car is not believed to have been involved in the crash.

Fire chiefs said the three victims did not stand a chance of survival.

Sub Officer Ian Medcalf, of Bolton North fire station, was the first at the scene.

He said: "It was obvious the passengers were beyond our help. It was horrendous."

Sgt Barry Fairclough, of Bolton Police Traffic Unit added: "In the eight years I have been a traffic officer this is one of the worst incidents I have ever seen."

The mangled wreck of the red Porsche was barely recognisable as it was dragged by a recovery team along a grassy verge from the sub-station wall.

The vehicle's red bonnet and Porsche badge could still be made out but the back of the high-powered sports car was a twisted heap of charred metal.

Brickwork on the sub-station was falling away at one corner, leaving a gaping hole. Lying next to the building was a tree felled by the impact.

The car, which had not been reported stolen, was travelling towards Belmont when it lost control at the junction with Blackburn Road and Andrew Lane.

A Bolton paramedic crew spotted the wreckage on route to a 999 call in Bromley Cross.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "There was nothing our crews could have done. The car was overturned and engulfed in flames as we got there."

Meanwhile, a fire crew from Bolton Fire Station was travelling to attend a report of trees on fire, unaware of the incident's severity. They saw debris scattered on the road and the damaged bus shelter and immediately called police. Sub Officer Medcalf added that almost all of the car was engulfed in flames which had to be put out before they could reach the bodies.

Fire crews spent more than four hours at the scene and accident investigators stayed at the site throughout the morning.

A 40-year-old mother-of-two who lives on Andrew Lane, who did not want to be named, said: "I saw flames three metres high. At first I thought someone had set fire to the trees."

Doctor Ernest Jack, also of Andrew Lane, said: "I heard a crash at about 2am and looked out to see lots of smoke. The firemen arrived really quickly. It was terrible."

Police have also revealed two cars drove past the burning wreckage. They did a U-turn to stop at the scene before driving off. It is not known whether they dialled 999.

The cars were a dark green Vauxhall Vectra and a dark-coloured Ford Mondeo.

Sgt Fairclough added: "There is no suggestion they were involved in the incident but they may be vital witnesses. They should contact us immediately."

The four-seater Porsche was taken to Greater Manchester Police's vehicle recovery centre in Walkden for forensic testing. It is more than 10-years-old and is believed to have been worth up to £10,000. The car was registered to an address in Bolton.

A United Utilities spokesman said: "While this incident did not affect electricity supplies the structure of the sub station is quite badly damaged.

"We are bringing in supplies from other sub stations and generators but electricity supplies up to 500 homes may be affected."

The sub-station and bus station was due to be repaired today.

Anyone with information should contact Bolton Traffic Police on 0161 856 5972.