Cheshire band Viola Beach's debut album - recorded before all four members and their manager were killed in a car crash in Sweden - has been posthumously released.

The Warrington indie outfit, which comprised Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin, tragically died with their manager Craig Tarry in February when their car plunged more than 80ft into a canal in Sodertalje, 18 miles from Stockholm.

Following news of the tragedy, their debut Swings & Waterslides entered the official singles chart and topped the iTunes chart.

Their self-titled album is released on the band’s own record label Fuller Beans Records, and is made up of nine songs including Swings & Waterslides and lead single Boys That Sing.

A statement from the families of the band said: “We are tremendously proud of everything the boys achieved in such a short space of time.

“Craig, Jack, Kris, River and Tom shared a huge passion, talent and dedication to music.

"We believe the best way to celebrate our son’s lives is to release an album of their songs.

“This is their legacy and we know deep in our hearts that the boys would want the world to listen to the music they poured everything into."

“This was only the beginning for them and these nine songs were written with every intention to be shared, heard and, most of all, enjoyed.

“We hope that it brings you as much happiness listening to it as we know it did to them making it.”

Music magazine NME praised the record as an album “that will leave a smile on your face”.

The publication’s review said: “Viola Beach’s name will always be synonymous with tragedy, but at least now we have a document of who this band were - and what they might have achieved.”