THE three victims of a motorway crash, killed as they returned home from a weekend music festival, have been identified by police.

Joanna Walker, 18, from Staplehurst, Andrew Lucas, 21, and Paul Smith, 26, both from Maidstone, were travelling back to Kent from V Festival in Staffordshire with three other friends early on Monday morning when their car left the motorway between junctions 28 and 29 of the M25 in Essex.

Police confirmed the identity of the three victims after an inquest into their deaths was opened and adjourned. Joanna Walker had previously lived at Larkfield.

The driver of the vehicle, a woman in her late 20s, was taken to Darenth Valley Hospital at Dartford with multiple injuries along with a another passenger in her late teens, who sustained a broken arm.

Another passenger, a man in his 20s remains in a stable condition at Oldchurch Hospital, Romford.

The M25 was closed clockwise between Junction 28 and 29 following the incident, and re-opened shortly before 12 noon.

It is not thought any other vehicles were involved.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Collision Investigation Unit at Chadwell Heath Traffic Garage on 020 8597 4874.