A family have spoken of their grief after their talented 20-year-old City worker son lost his life in a freak accident.

Kevin Stanton had so much ahead of him. With a string of GCSEs and A-levels under his belt, he was also a promising boxer who was much admired on the circuit.

He had also just started a good job in the City and had passed his driving test months earlier.

But it was to be in his car that he met his death.

Kevin was dropping his old schoolfriend, Colin Humphries, back home to Wickford, when his car hit a tree in Castledon Road, Downham.

Doctors battled through the night to save Kevin, but he died the following morning as a result of the multiple injuries he suffered.

The pair had been to see another friend called Vincent in Billericay. Colin, 20, of Norsey Road, Wickford, is still in intensive care in Basildon Hospital.

Kevin had passed his driving test three months ago and was given the Ford Orion by his step-grandad.

Kevin 's dad, Peter Stanton 61, of Craylands, Basildon, said his eldest son was "champion" and is having a flower arrangement made in those words for the funeral at Pitsea Crematorium on Thursday.

Kevin's dad has been to visit Colin in intensive care and is praying he will pull through.

Kevin's mum, Christine, said: "We're all thinking of Colin and his family." Mr Stanton, said: "Something good has got to come out of this. "We can't lose two good kids."

Kevin, a former Bromfords School pupil was an ambitious, well-liked young man, who was a member of Billericay Boys Boxing Club in Lake Meadows.

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