More details have been revealed about the tragic deaths of two young men killed in a crash in Royton over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

Harry Atkinson and Lewis Meeson, from Royton, died on Good Friday after a crash between a car and an off-road motorbike on High Barn Street.

Today (April 26) at Rochdale Coroner’s Court, at an inquest opening into the men's deaths, assistant coroner Michael Salt heard from police coroner’s officer Kathy Dixon about the progress of an ongoing police investigation into the incident.

She revealed the car turned across the path of the off-road motorbike before rider Harry and pillion passenger Lewis went into the side of it.

Ms Dixon said: “A car was driving along High Barn Street.

“Concurrently, an off-road motorbike was riding in the opposite direction.

“The car turned right onto Cardigan Street across the path of the deceased.

“Both collided with the car and sustained fatal injuries.”

Harry and Lewis’s bodies were identified by their mothers at Royal Oldham Hospital in the hours after the crash.

The families of the two friends paid tribute to the tragic duo and thanked the emergency services for their support.

The family of 20-year-old plumber Harry said: “Words can’t describe how it feels to lose our youngest child in such a tragic way. Our hearts are broken.

“His life and his death will touch many people ­– most of all those who love him dearly."

While the family of 21-year-old kitchen fitter Lewis said: “The family has been completely devastated by the loss of our beloved Lewis.

“We are truly humbled by the outpouring of love and support from the community and from Lewis’s family and friends.

"This has reinforced what we already knew – that he is loved and cherished by everyone who knew him.”

Adjourning the inquests at Rochdale Coroner’s Court, Mr Salt said: “An inquest needs to be opened and that’s what I do today, but what I can't do is set a date for the inquest.

“No date will be set until the outcome of the investigation is confirmed.”

The Oldham Times has asked Greater Manchester Police for an update on its ongoing police investigation.