Tributes have been paid to a man killed in a crash in County Durham earlier this month.
Leon Patterson, of Durham, was driving a Mitsubishi Shogun when it crashed in Littletown, near the city.
Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, the 18-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
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A family statement said: “On July 14 we lost a beautiful family member, our little Leon, in a tragic car incident, this has brought nothing but heartbreak to us all.
“The family and the community will never be the same again.
“His smile and cheeky little words would light a whole room up as many of you already know and life will never be the same without him.
“He was the most caring, kind-hearted little soul.
“Loved by so so many and will be truly missed.”
An investigation is still ongoing into the circumstances of the collision.
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