A boy of 15 has appeared in court charged in connection with a car that crashed killing five teenagers.

The youth, who cannot be named, appeared at Hastings Youth Court yesterday hours before inquests into the deaths opened.

He has been charged with aggravated vehicle taking, breach of an Asbo, disqualified driving and having no insurance.

It was not alleged that he was involved in the crash or in any way responsible for it.

The boy was escorted from court to a waiting car by two police officers while grieving relatives attended the inquest.

Amid a heavy police presence, around a dozen relatives of the dead attended the ten-minute hearing as it was opened then adjourned.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze said the five - aged 14 to 17 - all died from multiple injuries in the crash in Battle Road, St Leonards.

The victims were Kelly Goring, 17, of Quebec Road, Danielle Martin, 16, also of Quebec Road, Lee Morgan, 14, of Chambers Road, Daniel Carwardine, 16, of Beauchamp Road, and Barrie Mackay, 15, of London Road, all from St Leonards.

They were travelling in the K-registration Metro when it crashed into a lamp-post and walls at 1.42am on Saturday.

The teenagers who died spent part of Friday night in Church-in-the-Wood graveyard in Hollington where alcohol was consumed.

Mr Craze passed no comment on the circumstances of the accident, saying: "I would not wish to make my mind up about anything that may or may not have happened until I receive a full file."

No date for a full inquest was set and families of the five left the hearing without commenting.

Following the smash, Sussex Police referred the investigation into the accident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The force revealed that its officers had been "involved" with the Metro that crashed prior to the collision.

Last night the Independent Police Complaints Commission said there had been a "good response" to public appeals for information about the crash.

However, they have not yet heard from a cyclist reportedly struck by the Metro moments before the smash. Anyone with information should contact the Operation Torquay inquiry team on 0845 6070 999.