HEARTFELT tributes have been paid by the families of two young men killed in a horror crash.

Floral wreaths and bouquets are piled up beside the scene of the collision in which Steven Worthington and Thomas Edward Jenkins Brown died.

They were travelling in a Renault Clio which collided with a Citroen Xsara Picasso travelling in the opposite direction in Hoghton just after 9.30pm last Thursday.

Police said the pair died instantly when a fireball engulfed their vehicle.

The Citroen driver was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital with head, rib and wrist injuries.

The deaths of the two friends, who lived in nearby Chapel Lane, have devastated the close-knit village of Hoghton. One card from Steven's parents reads: "We could not say goodbye, but we will say good night, God bless, as we always did."

And in a tribute on the Lancashire Telegraph website, Steven's elder brother Paul said: "I would like to thank everybody who has been of great support to our family at this time of loss, thank you for the flowers and heartfelt messages."

He also gave a message of support to the driver of the Citroen car - and said he hoped he would make a full recovery from his injuries.

Steven, a former Walton-le-Dale High School pupil, worked as a mechanic at Murray's Garage, Station Road, Hoghton.

Thomas Edward's sister Rosie has also paid tribute to her younger brother, known to friends as Eddie, and thanked those who left messages of condolence on the website.

Her tribute at the scene spoke of a "wonderful, beautiful, loyal and fun-loving brother" whose life had been "full of hopes" before it had been cut short too soon.

The driver of the second vehicle has been named locally as Andrew Thompson, of Higher Wheelton.

Steven and Thomas Edward's families, who have received countless sympathy cards, were too upset to comment further yesterday. An investigati-on in to the crash is being conducted by Lancashire Police's southern area road policing team.