Five men arrested over deadly hit-and-run in Oldham

Five men have been arrested after a hit-and-run driver killed a young girl and left her cousin seriously injured on New Year's Eve.

Helina Kotlarova, 12, died and her 11-year-old cousin, Zaneta Krokova, is critically ill in hospital after they were hit by a black VW Golf on Ashton Road in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

The pair were holding hands and crossing the road when they were hit by the car at around 7.15pm.

The five men - aged 59, 48, 38, 23 and 18 - have been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, Greater Manchester Police said.

Officers are appealing for anyone who saw a dark Peugeot 807 in the area at the time and the driver of a white van to come forward.

The girls had been to a shop to buy sweets and were on their way home with a larger group of family and friends.

Helina's sister Sylva, 19, rushed to the scene and described finding Helina covered in blood.

She said emergency services told her there was nothing they could do.

"She was too young to die. She was beautiful. She loved dancing and singing. She was a young lady who loved life," she said.

Helina's distraught mother, also called Sylva, wept and stroked her daughter's hair as she was confirmed dead.

Anyone with information should call the collision unit on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident number 1691 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.