THE funerals of best friends who were killed in a road crash at the weekend will be held later this week.

Kane Banner and Ryan Fairley died when Kane's Ford Fiesta collided with a tree on the outskirts of Durham City on Sunday night.

Inquests into both deaths were opened and adjourned by Coroner Andrew Tweddle, at Chester-le-Street Magistrates' Court, yesterday so the funerals could be arranged.

A service for Ryan, a tyre fitter, from Middlestone Moor, near Spennymoor, will be held on Friday at St Charles' RC Church, in Tudhoe Village, at 1.30pm.

The funeral service of apprentice dry-liner Kane, 17, of Auckland Park, Bishop Auckland, will be held at St Andrew's Church, Bishop Auckland, at 10am on Saturday.

Former classmates at St John's RC Comprehensive School, Bishop Auckland, yesterday paid tribute and said prayers for the friends and their families at a Mass.

Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses to the accident, on the A167 near the Cock O' The North pub, shortly after 10pm on Sunday. In particular, they want to speak to the driver of a blue Vauxhall Astra believed to be on the road at about the time of the crash. Anyone with information is asked to contact the accident unit on 0191- 375 2159.