Oldham hit-and-run
Helena Kotlarova, 12, (L) and her cousin Zaneta Krokova , 11, were both killed in a hit-and-run collision in Oldham Facebook

A man has admitted causing the deaths of two childhood cousins during a hit-and-run crash in Oldham on New Year's Eve.

Hungarian driver Gabor Hegedus, 38, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday (3 April).

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Zaneta Krokova, 11, and Helina Kotlarova, 12, were killed whilst holding hands when they crossed Ashton Road on 31 December 2016.

The two girls had just come out of a shop near their home when they were struck by a Peugeot 807 shortly after 7.15pm.

Helina died at the scene and Zaneta later died in hospital on 2 January.

Hegedus admitted failing to stop, disposing of the vehicle, failing to report an accident and driving without a licence, at an earlier hearing.

The girls' families watched the proceedings from the public gallery.

Helina's father, Robert Kotlar, told the BBC: "While it is of course a relief that we will not have go through a trial as a result of the driver taking responsibility for his actions, we will still have to live every day without our beloved daughter because of what he did.

Zaneta's father, Milan Kroka, added: "Those young girls have been so cruelly taken away from us. Zaneta was so young and full of life, it is still hard to believe at times she is no longer with us,"

Also at the hearing David Orsos, 18, pleaded guilty to a single charge of perverting the course of justice in relation to the incident. Hegedus and Orsos will be sentenced in June.

Lawyers for a third man, Janos Kalayanos, made an application to dismiss a charge of perverting the course of justice against the 50-year-old. The case will be ruled on by Judge John Potter on Tuesday (4 April).

Zoltan Peto, 49, has also pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice and will go on trial on 26 June. All four defendants remain in custody until their next court dates.

Helina's sister Sylva, 19, said at the time of the crash according to the Daily Mail: "Her face was all bloody. She did not breathe. Mum was touching her hair.

"Helina's sisters and cousins were on the other side of the road waiting for them to cross. They were next to the shop but the car then came.

"Helina and Zaneta were stood on the side of the road where the shop is.

"They were holding hands. They went to buy something from the shop and after they went out they waited to cross the road."