A DROITWICH Spa family is still coming to terms with the road crash which left them without two loved ones just days before Christmas.

Family members have paid tribute to both David Haines, aged 35, from Drovers Way, and 44-year-old Malcolm Ward, from Hipkiss Gardens, Waterfront. They were killed in a road accident just three days before Christmas Day.

The accident happened at 6.30am on Thursday, December 22, on the main A4103 Hereford to Worcester road near to Fromes Hill. The pair had set off early to make a round trip to Tenby to deliver Christmas presents.

The beige Toyota Yaris car they were travelling in collided with a Scania articulated lorry on the Hereford side of Fromes Hill close to Leighton Court completely blocking the road.

Despite police, fire fighters and paramedics arriving quickly at the location and freeing a number of people from the wreckage, driver David Haines was pronounced dead at the scene.

Malcolm Ward - who was David's uncle - died later of his injuries after being airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. Two boys, aged four and eight, who were rear seat passengers in the car, were taken to Hereford County Hospital following the collision.

The four-year-old was later discharged having suffered only seat-belt injuries, while the other child remains in hospital recovering from leg injuries.

Alaina, the widow of David Haines, who was a sergeant with the Droitwich Army Cadets, said she and her four children had been devastated by the loss.

"The children want everyone to know that they loved him to bits - he wasn't just their dad he was their friend. David was a big kid at heart and that is what made him so good with children.

"David was a fantastic man and a perfect gentleman and we are all devastated that we have lost him."

Julie, Malcolm Ward's widow, said: "Malcolm wasn't just my husband he was my best friend. His family and his kids meant everything to him.

"If anyone called to say they wanted a hand with anything, he was the first one out of the door, sometimes with the phone still in hand."

Malcolm was a self-employed coach driver and he ran a mobile catering business known locally as 'Malcolm's Lay-by' on the A38 at Copcut. He also bought and sold cars.

Following the incident police closed the road and carried out investigations into the collision. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and was later released on bail while inquiries continue.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Sergeant Tony Jones, at the Hereford road policing team, on 08457 444888.