THE families of two Worcester teenagers killed in a car crash have paid tribute to the fun-loving 18-year-olds.

Richard Harvey, of Helford Close, Ronkswood, and Ross Hodgkins, of Goldsmith Road, Warndon, shared a love of cars.

They died tragically in Richard's Peugeot 106 Quicksilver when it hit a tree shortly after midnight on Friday at Crown East, near Worcester.

The pair had been visiting friends and were last seen by Ross's sister, Carly, as they left Bromyard at 10.30pm.

"I said to ring me at 12.30pm to let me know they were home safely, but I didn't get a phone call and when I tried to ring them there was no reply," said Carly, aged 20.

"I think they had gone cruising; it was what they did, just driving around looking at other cars."

Richard, known to his friends as 'Squints', was a keen sportsman.

He played hockey for Worcester and Worcestershire, and had played football for Nunnery Wood Colts from the age of eight.

Although he went to Ronkswood Primary School while Ross went to Cranham Primary School, the pals met through playing football and became friends at Nunnery Wood High School.

Richard was in his third year as an apprentice mechanic at the Peugeot garage in St Peter's, Worcester.

His father, Pete, said: "Cars and sport were his life."

"He was so proud when he was taken on as an apprentice.

"When he was younger, he and his friends would sit for hours just watching the cars go by. He was never in any trouble."

His mother, Jackie, said he passed

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both his theory and practical driving tests first time and got his first car on his 17th birthday.

His sister, Charlotte, aged 15, said: "His car was his pride and joy. He lived life to the full."

Ross drove a blue Peugeot 106 and sometimes took his dog with him, a rescued Boxer called Jack.

He had just started a course in car mechanics at Evesham College.

"He played football, ice hockey and golf, but cars were his main interest," said his father, Harry.

"He had a fantastic sense of humour and he was always ready to help people out. He didn't like drinking much and his friends would often ring him up late at night asking for a lift."

His mother, Dawn, said these friends had gathered at their house on Sunday to reminisce and laugh about old times.

"There wasn't a bad thing you could say about him," she said.

Both funerals will be at Worcester Crematorium. Richard's will be on Friday at 2.30pm, with flowers or donations to Acorns Children's Hospice

Ross's will be on Monday at 3pm, with family flowers only. Donations can be made to Danemere Animal Rescue Centre.

An inquest at Stourport-on-Severn yesterday said both youngsters died from multiple injuries. It was adjourned to a date to be fixed.