AN elderly couple have been killed in a tragedy on a Huddersfield road which has claimed two other lives in just over 12 months.

And their deaths means it has been a wretched week on the area's roads with a total of FIVE lives lost in just five days.

The latest crash happened at 3.10pm yesterday on a left-hand bend on Penistone Road at Shepley.

A blue Ford Transit van designed to carry passengers in the back was in a head-on smash with a silver Volvo S40 car going the other way. A couple in their 80s - the Volvo driver and his wife who was the front seat passenger - both died at the scene.

The 25-year-old van driver and his 20-year-old front-seat passenger were both hurt and were taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary where their conditions are said to be "stable".

No-one else was in the van.

Police have confirmed that one man has been arrested in connection with the tragedy, but can give no more details at this stage.

The van was being driven from the Sovereign crossroads towards New Mill and the car was coming the other way when the crash happened.

Sgt Danny Groiser, of Huddersfield traffic police, said: "We are appealing for witnesses and would like to speak to anyone who saw the collision or either vehicle being driven on Penistone Road."

Relatives were being informed of the tragedy last night and the couple's names have not yet been released.

Firefighters were sent to the scene from Skelmanthorpe, Holmfirth and Meltham.

Although no-one was trapped, both vehicles were badly damaged and firefighters helped paramedics to lift the dead and injured from the wreckage.

A West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: "Both vehicles had suffered severe front-end damage from what had clearly been a massive impact."

The crash happened around a quarter-of-a-mile from where 25-year-old Shepley man Michael Wilson died when his car was in collision with an oil tanker on April 6.

Mr Wilson, a chef who lived on Marsh Lane, Shepley, was on a day off from work at the Three Acres Inn at Shelley when the crash happened at the Marsh Lane junction with Penistone Road.

Both vehicles then careered through a wall around 25ft from the original impact and down a small drop into the field below.

The driver of the articulated lorry was badly shocked, but unhurt.

On June 21 last year Holmfirth builder Nigel Martin, a father-of-four, died after his 850cc Yamaha hit a barrier on Penistone Road, New Mill.

This week has also seen the deaths of best friends Brian Bentley, 48, and David Baillie, 56, who were killed in their home village of Marsden just after midnight on Sunday morning. They were in collision with a car after getting out of a taxi.

And at midday on Monday, father-of-two John Crowther was killed when his motorcycle was in collision with a lorry on Stainland Road at the junction with Burrwood Way, Holywell Green.

Mr Crowther, who lived in Holywell Green, leaves a widow, Jane, and two children, 15-year-old Thomas and nine-year-old Harriett.

People living in the Shepley area were stunned by yesterday's tragedy.

Queues of traffic formed as a police officer at the Sovereign crossroads controlled the flow of traffic along Penistone Road towards New Mill.

Alan Robinson, of Holmfirth Road, Shepley, said he was not surprised to learn of the crash.

"I just knew when I saw the traffic backing up that there was a problem.

"We have tried to get the speed limit on this road reduced for 13 years but Kirklees Council say there have not been enough fatal accidents.

"It's too fast a road. The speed limit should be reduced from 50mph down to 30 or 40mph."

Anyone with information about the crash can contact Pc Andy Oversby on 01484 436847 .