Two of three teenagers who died when the car they were in plunged into a river most likely drowned, a coroner has heard.

Jackson Duke, 17, and 16-year-olds Luke Etheridge and Zara Shaw died when a black Audi A3 entered the River Wear in Sunderland, just before 13:30 BST on 29 September.

A 17-year-old boy, who managed to reach safety, has been released on bail pending further inquiries after being arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Opening inquests for Jackson and Luke, Sunderland's senior coroner David Place said it was a "tragic time for the whole city".

Zara's inquest is due to be opened later on Monday.

During the short hearings for the boys at City Hall, coroner's officer Vicky Ross said Northumbria Police was called to reports of a car entering the river at Panns Bank.

One of the vehicle's four occupants managed to "self-extricate" but the other three "tragically could not", she said.

Their bodies were found in the car later by divers, the inquest heard.

She said an investigation into the circumstances was ongoing.

A post-mortem examination carried out on 1 October concluded the provisional cause of death for Jackson appeared to be "consistent with drowning", Place said during a seven-minute long hearing for Jackson.

He offered his condolences to relatives of Jackson who attended the hearing and said: "It's a tragic time for the whole of the city."

A pathologist also concluded Luke's cause of death was "consistent with drowning", Place said.

The coroner also offered his condolences to Luke's family, who had attended the four-minute long hearing.

A review hearing for both boys has been listed for 21 January.

Jackson and Luke were from Sunderland and Zara was from Houghton-le-Spring.

All were students at Sunderland College.

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