TRIBUTES have continued to come in to the two tragic teenagers who died in a road accident on the A127.

Stephen Symmonds, 18, of Manners Way, Southend,and Tom Jarrett, 17, of South Crescent, Southend, died when Stephen’s white Ford Fiesta smashed into a concrete pillar in Prince Avenue, just before 1.30am.

Paris Holloway, 16, from Great Wakering, was a passenger in the back seat of the car in the crash. She suffered pelvic injuries and was transferred from Southend Hospital to St George’s Hospital, in Tooting, London, where she was reported to be in a stable condition yesterday afternoon.

Yesterday, a mass of flowers had been left at the crash scene as friends sought to pay tribute to the two youngsters.

Mark Townsend, 17, of Satanita Road, Westcliff, said: “I was Tom’s best mate at secondary school. I’m so upset and still in shock. It’s terrible, just tragic. He didn’t have a bad bone in his body. Everyone loved him.

“I’ll think of Tom as my best mate for ever and he will always be in my heart. I miss him so much and love him.”

Tributes to Tom and Stephen, have also come in thick and fast to the Echo website, www.echo-news.co.uk Online tributes have also been paid to young mum Samantha Lee, who died in a separate crash near her home in Canewdon.

A remembrance page for Tom and Stephen has been set up on the social networking site, Facebook. It had more than 450 members yesterday, with scores of messages left expressing shock and grief at the loss of the two popular friends.

The page also features a message from Tom’s family thanking people for their messages of support.

Stephen was studying vehicle maintenance at Thurrock and Basildon College.

Classmate Jamie Wallis, 17, of Papenburg Way, Canvey, said: “I’ve known Stephen for only three or four months but it felt like we’d known each other for years, he was so easy to get on with.

“He was such a bright kid. He had everything going for him and was very popular. He loved the course and always worked hard and gave it his best.”

Both young men were former students at King Edmund School, Rochford, where Paris Holloway is also a Year 11 student.

Headteacher Graham Abel said: “It’s extremely sad when young people die, particularly when they are a member of our school.

“We are very worried about Paris because she is in her final year. It has caused considerable concern to her friends in Year 11. Our condolences go to the families of these young people.”