THERE were celebrations and sadness at one school yesterday as A-level students collecting their results mourned the deaths of two "brilliant" pupils.

Katy Linighan and Richard Clemot-Escobar died in a car crash only days before they were due to collect their grades after months of hard work.

And as their fellow students at the English Martyrs College, in Hartlepool, Teesside, celebrated a pass rate of 97 per cent, friends shed tears as they prayed for the pair.

Two other students are still in hospital with serious injuries.

All four were in a Vauxhall Astra car on the A19 near Hartlepool on Monday night when they lost control and veered off the road, hitting trees.

Grade-A student Richard, 18, who was described by teachers as Oxbridge material, suffered fatal injuries along with Katy, also 18.

Sixth Form college headteacher Joe Hughes spoke of the sadness among students.

Following an assembly held in memory of the pair yesterday, he said: "This day is so difficult for students and staff alike.

"We are here to celebrate the hard work that all of our students have done, but also we are all grieving for Richard and Katy.

"Coping with all these mixed emotions is proving too much for some of us.

"I gathered all the staff together at 9.15am to brief them about the results and we started with a prayer. There are a lot of people upset.

"I then addressed the students, who all knew Katy and Richard, and we held a one-minute silence. It is just so tragic knowing that they both had brilliant futures mapped out in front of them."

Richard sat exams in English literature, music, religious studies and general studies, and Katy studied art, textiles and photography. They were expecting to be among the top performing students at the college.

Richard achieved nine A* GCSEs. He was due to attend the sixth-form with Katy to pick up their A-level results.

Richard had secured a place at Newcastle University to study English literature.