A DEDICATED Scout leader was killed in a car crash while he was driving home from a troop meeting.

Alistair Peach, an engineering student at Cambridge University, had spent an evening with the Baden Powell Cubs and Scouts at Heighington near Darlington.

The 21-year-old was on his way back to his parents' home, in Barningham, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, when his car hit the parapet of a bridge over the River Tees, on the B6274 road at Winston, at 11.15pm on Tuesday.

Mr Peach was due to return to university shortly. On all his visits home from Cambridge, he helped out at every session of the Scout troop.

Group scoutmaster Alan Wilson said yesterday: "He was a fantastic lad who gave wonderful service to our movement.

"He will be a tremendous loss to us, and will be impossible to replace.

"I had known him since he joined the cubs when he was aged eight. He was always polite and well behaved. He was always eager and willing to tackle any job.

"You could not get a better example of a perfect scout."

Prayers will be said and tributes paid to him at the troop's next meeting next week.

He attended every camp that was arranged and took a leading part in organising events and competitions.

He was also the troop's minutes secretary.

Mr Peach lived with his family at Brafferton, near Darlington, until some months ago, when they moved to Barningham.

But he went back to Heighington at every opportunity to help out at the busy sessions.

The troop has 149 members ranging from Beavers to Rovers, and it was said yesterday that every one of them had the greatest respect for Mr Peach.

Mr Wilson said: "He was busy as usual at his final meeting, working with all the boys and girls in his normal excellent way. He was as bright and cheerful as ever."

He also helped the troop regularly during a year he took out from his university studies.

One boy from the troop said: "He was everyone's friend because he was always happy and helpful."

His parents, who have become popular in Barningham in the short time they have lived there, were said to be devastated by the tragedy.

The road was closed for five hours after the accident, and yesterday police experts were still investigating the cause.

Any witnesses are asked to call PC Ian Haigh on 0845-60-60-365.