Three people have died after their car collided head-on with a vehicle that was driving on the wrong side of the road.

Police believe the driver who was heading the wrong way could have been under the influence of drink or drugs during the crash in Peterborough in the early hours of Sunday.

Cambridgeshire Police said the man drove on the wrong side of a slip road to Stanground from Fletton Parkway shortly after midnight.

He then collided with the oncoming car "killing all three of its occupants", police allege.

He was arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drink or drugs, and of causing death by dangerous driving.

The suspect was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Pictures from the scene showed a severely crushed small silver car and a dark pickup-truck with a smashed bonnet and windscreen.

The chairwoman of the Cambridgeshire Police Federation, Liz Groom, said it was "such sad news".

"Thoughts with the families of those who have died," she tweeted.

"Also with the officers & other emergency service colleagues who attended the incident and delivered the terrible messages to loved ones. One of the hardest & most difficult parts of our job that you never forget."