A FAMILY have paid tribute to a father and his talented rugby player son who died in a car accident as they travelled to a training session.

Speaking last night, Fiona Austen described husband Paul and their son, Andrew, as unique and much loved.

The pair died in February after their Mercedes Benz SLK230 clipped a kerb, hit a barrier and crashed into a concrete support.

Mrs Austen's tribute came as an inquest into their deaths yesterday concluded that the cause of the accident will remain a mystery.

It happened as Paul, 42, was driving Andrew, 14, to a rugby training session at Darlington Mowden Park Rugby Football Club, where he played for the under-15s.

Mrs Austen, 43, of Falmouth Drive, Darlington, said "They were a much-loved pair. They were both unique in their own special ways.

"Paul was very quiet and Andrew was very feisty."

She said Paul, a self-employed computer program analyst, supported Andrew and his 17-year-old sister Sally, a rugby player who has gained international honours, often transporting them to training sessions and matches.

She said: "He was quiet. He was just a nice person with a good sense of humour and lots of friends." She described Andrew as a "little character" who had lots of friends at Longfield School, where he studied, and the rugby club.

She said: "He was a loveable little rogue with a cheeky little smile that could get him out of anything."

The family have been invited to the rugby club's awards ceremony on June 8, where a trophy will be awarded in Andrew's memory. It will be awarded annually to a member of the under-15s squad. Mrs Austen said: "The rugby club have been really, really fantastic."

She said she had received hundreds of cards and bouquets from wellwishers.

She said: "Everyone has been fantastic. I would like to thank everyone who has helped -friends, family and neighbours; South Durham gymnastics and Darlington gymnastics clubs. I have had a lot of support."

At the inquest, PC Nigel Craig, of Durham Police, said officers had been unable to determine exactly what had caused the accident or how fast the vehicle had been travelling.

He said visibility had been good and there had been no obstructions in the road. On two of the vehicles' tyres, pressures were low and there had been damp spots on the road.

The accident happened in Burtree Lane, north of Darlington, at about 10.50am on Sunday, February 11.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Brenda Davidson said: "I am afraid when we do not have a witness who sees something that actually happened, there will always be questions which we unfortunately cannot answer."

Read tributes to the pair on The Northern Echo website at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/ sport/rugby/mowden