THE family of Stuart Adams spoke last night of the immense pride they had in their sports-mad son - of a caring and thoughtful teenager who always retained a cheeky sense of humour.

Speaking for the first time since the tragic deaths of Stuart and life-long friend Lee Mullis, his parents recalled a teenager who lived life to the full.

They told how the 15-year-old had only recently completed work experience with a plumbing and heating company and had so impressed the owner that he was offered an apprenticeship when he left school.

His father, Trevor, 46, said: "They were impressed with Stuey's politeness and willingness to get on with the job.

"It made us so proud. He had gone out on his own in the big bad world and made a good impression."

Stuart lived with his father and stepmother, Michelle.

His mother, Sue Cadman, lived nearby and all played a big part in his life.

Yesterday, they recalled some of the memorable moments of their time with him.

"He was a joker, and he and I had our own codes. It was stupid, but we had a rapport," said Mr Adams.

He described him as a boy with expensive tastes, who always took the utmost care in his appearance.

His mother, 48, said: "He used to look like he had just stepped out of a sports shop."

She remembered the times her son straightened her hair, helped around the house and the last time she saw him, when he turned up at her door covered in mud.

Stuart's 41-year-old stepmother said she would never forget how he held her hand at her father's funeral last year.

Stuart was a talented sportsman and played for the Darlington schoolboys' team.

His father said: "Stuart had the heart of a lion when it came to football. He would tackle anybody and his manager said if he had a team of 11 Stueys, he would have the team of the century."

Mr Adams did his best to protect his son: "I always said to be careful out there. We trusted him but I did pester him with phone calls asking where he was."

His best friend, Lee, had been about to embark on a golf career that could have seen him turn professional - and yesterday his parents, Christine and Ray, attended a golf tournament in County Durham - in which the 14-year-old was to have represented the North of England.

"We just watched the lads tee off and the captain said a few words," said Mr Mullis, 57. "I shook the hand of the lad he was to have paired up with and I am glad we went.

"Lee was mad about golf. He wouldn't have been out last Friday if it had been light enough for him to be on the golf course."

Mrs Mullis, 43, recalled his mischievous ways, and told how he jokingly flicked water over her before he went out with his friends last Friday evening.

She was in the bath and remembers laughing as she told him to get out of the bathroom.

"They were high-spirited. The amount of laughs we have had just thinking of what they got up to," she said.

"He was the daftest brush. He's always been a handful."

It was a typical prank for the 14-year-old, and his love of larking about is the only thing his family can imagine might have caused him to be on the railway track.

It is the memories of his huge sense of fun that have allowed them to laugh a little in the days since his death.

"If anyone said 'go and do that', he would do it," said Mrs Mullis. "He was the class clown."

She said she used to ring his mobile constantly to find out where he was.

If he'd switched it off, she could call Stuart's phone, knowing the two would be together.

Lee's sister, Linzi, 21, said: "Lee and Stuey were definitely both characters."

Both families have been touched by the kindness of the boys' friends. Hundreds are expected to attend a joint funeral and the boys' closest pals will plan the music and provide photographs.

Mr Adams said: "We want a bit of closure, we are ready to put the boys to rest."