Three teenage boys have been killed in a collision between a private car and an ambulance in Helmond.

One of the youngsters, a 16-year-old from Nuenen, was driving the car at the time. He and two others, aged 15 and 16 and from Eindhoven, died in the crash.

A fourth passenger, aged 15, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The two people in the ambulance were also taken to hospital for observation.

The car is thought to have hit the ambulance after ending up on the wrong side of the road shortly after midnight. The ambulance was not carrying patients at the time and was on its way back to the depot.

According to the Telegraaf, a canister of laughing gas was found next to the car but it is, as yet, unclear if it had been in the vehicle or if it had a role in the accident.

The legal driving age in the Netherlands is 18 although 17-year-olds who have passed their theory and practical tests can drive under the supervision of a more experienced driver.

Youngsters can take the theory test at 16 and take lessons from the age of 16 and a half but cannot take the test until they turn 17.

Update Sunday afternoon: A police spokesman told the Telegraaf the owner of the car had been identified but they did not yet know what the relationship is between the owner and the boys, and how they got hold of the vehicle.