THE family of a 19-year-old driver who lost his life in a road accident spoke yesterday of the young man who was always "kind, caring and considerate.''

Michael Allan Stones, who lived in St Cuthbert's Road, in Thornley, east Durham, was on his way to pick up his older brother from a martial arts class in Birtley on Monday evening.

Reaching a stretch of the A181, near to its junction with an unclassified road to the Durham village of Old Cassop, his Rover 25 collided with a VW Passat coming in the opposite direction.

The teenager was declared dead at the scene and the 46-year-old driver of the Passat, who comes from Castle Eden sustained minor injuries.

Mr Stones' death has stunned the community of Thornley and devastated his family.

He lived with his father Alan, 21-year-old brother Lee and sister Aimee, 15.

His mother, Tracy Holden, also lives in the village with Michael's half brother Levi aged three.

Lee said last night: "He was one of the best.

"He was a keen bodybuilder and he had a great love of rap music. It was his main interest and had been for a long time

"He liked to write and sing his own songs, but his performances were just for family and friends.''

His mother Tracy said: "His death has come as a terrible shock to all who knew him.

"He was well-known as kind, caring and considerate.''

"He always had time for a word with everyone.

"His death has left a huge gap in our lives which will never be filled.''

The death of the popular teenager has come as a second blow to a community still coming to terms with the death of 16-year-old Tracey Barnett, who died in a road accident at Sherburn House, not far from its junction with A181, little over a year ago.

Anyone who witnessed the accident on Monday evening is asked to contact Durham police on 0845 6060365.