Officers would not identify the man held on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after the M6 collision, but sources told the Press Association that he is the Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper McCormick.

The 24-year-old player from Coventry is a former England youth international and was twice voted Argyle's young player of the season, according to the Championship club's website.

The club confirmed that one of its players had been involved in the tragedy, but would not reveal which one.

The crash happened between junctions 15 and 16 of the motorway near Keele Services in Staffordshire shortly before 5.45am.

A silver Toyota Previa people carrier left the southbound carriageway and hit trees after it was in collision with a black Range Rover. The man arrested at the scene of the crash was the driver of the Range Rover and he was not hurt.

One of the boys was confirmed dead at the scene. His brother was later pronounced dead at hospital.

Their father, the 37-year-old driver of the Toyota, remained in a serious condition at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, said Staffordshire Police.

The three other occupants of the people carrier - a 49-year-old man and his sons, aged eight and 15 - were treated at the same hospital for minor injuries.

The six were from the Manchester area and they were travelling to Silverstone, in Northamptonshire, when the crash happened, said Staffs Police. A force spokeswoman said it was unlikely that the dead boys would be named before Monday, when their classmates at school will be told of their deaths.