THE four teenagers whose tragic death in a car crash has prompted an outpouring of grief across Worcestershire.

Families, friends, former schoolfriends and people who never knew the youngsters have all joined in paying their respects to the teens who died in the accident on Sunday.

Their lives were tragically cut short when the car they were travelling in crashed into a tree on the notorious A449 Kidderminster to Worcester road at 9.15pm.

The four have been named as Worcester girls Joanne Bibby, aged 17, of Bearcroft Avenue, Warndon, and Stephanie Goodall, 16, of Burleigh Road, Dines Green. The teenage Droitwich boys were Kyle Gadsby, 18, of Valley Way and Martyn Pickering, 18, of Little Hill.

Joanne, Stephanie and Martyn, who was driving the car, died at the scene. Kyle died later at Worcestershire Royal Hospital at 11pm.

Their families fought back their grief to pay tribute to their children yesterday.

Joanne's father Stephen said: "She was gorgeous and never stopped talking. Her laughter filled the house. We never went to bed without saying good night. She was everything to me - a friend and a daughter."

Stephanie's dad Malcolm said how his pride and joy was looking forward to a career in the police.

He said: "She was very popular and was a regular agony aunt' with many of her friends crying on her shoulder. She was looking forward to joining the police and becoming a dog handler."

Tricia Gadsby-Dyer, mother of Kyle, described her 6ft 3ins, 18-stone son as "a big teddy bear". She added: "He and Martyn really gelled - with the same sense of humour - and I regarded both as my sons."

Meanwhile, Martyn's father, David Pickering, said: "He was a brilliant son and brother and there was nothing we would change about him.

"He always joked and may even have had a smile on his face when he died." The accident happened on the notorious A449 Kidderminster to Worcester road at 9.15pm on Sunday.

They were travelling towards Worcester near the turn off to Chatley when the car left the road and hit a tree.

Worcestershire Coroner Victor Round opened and adjourned an inquest for a date to be fixed yesterday.