Two women killed in three-car pile-up near Athlone

Two women in their 20s have died in a three-car collision near Athlone in Co Westmeath.

The emergency services were at the scene for more than three hours following the accident, which happened on the Dublin road near Fardrum at around 6.30pm yesterday.

The two dead women, who were aged 20 and 24, were both travelling in one of the cars involved in the crash.

Gardaí are withholding their names until all next of kin are informed.