Norfolk coroner William Armstrong today pledged a 'rigorous' investigation into a series of deaths on Norfolk's roads.

Speaking as he opened the inquests into four deaths over Christmas, he told the EDP: 'It is obviously a matter of grave concern that there have been so many fatal casualties in such a short space of time. It is certainly alarming.

'Each one of these deaths will be the subject of a rigorous and comprehensive investigation by the police and the inquests will have the necessary evidence and come to the appropriate conclusions.'

Tamzin Portor, 10, and sister Jessica, seven, died on the A47 near Walsoken on Thursday while being taken to the cinema in Peterborough for a Christmas treat by their dad and his girlfriend.

Mr Armstrong said the car was travelling towards Wisbech when it overturned at around 6.40pm.

The girls died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn from multiple injuries.

Mr Armstrong also opened the inquests into the deaths of John Knight, 77, and wife Patricia, 76, from Aylestone in Leicestershire.

They were killed on Christmas Eve on the A47 by Wendling while travelling to visit their son in Dereham.

Their Vauxhall Astra crashed into a car travelling in the opposite direction.

Mrs Knight died at the scene, while her husband, who was driving the car, died later that day at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.