The mother of a talented teenager killed in a car crash this evening paid tribute to her "perfect son".

Richard Clemot-Escobar, 18, died along with his friend Katy Linighan, 18, when the Vauxhall Astra they were travelling in overturned on the A19 dual carriageway near Hartlepool.

Two other teenagers in the car, a man and a young woman, both also aged 18, were last night in hospital with serious injuries.

Police said the red P-reg car had been heading north when it left the road, flipped over and ploughed into trees just after midnight on Tuesday.

Mr Clemot-Escobar, of Stockton Road, Hartlepool, who died at the scene, played piano and cello to a high standard and had been described as potential Oxbridge material by teachers at the town's English Martyr's school where he was a sixth form pupil.

His mother Elizabeth Ann, a French teacher at the school, said: "Richard was the perfect son, our pride and joy.

"He was developing into a fine young man who was popular with his family and friends and who had a great future ahead of him.

"It is impossible to take this in at the moment and we as a family need time to come to terms with what has happened."

She added that her son, who gained nine A stars in his GSCEs, was "gift from God that had been cruelly taken away".

He leaves his father, Adolfo, better known locally as Alf the Decorator, his 17-year-old sister Elizabeth, and his 24-year-old brother, Jon.

The family of Katy Linighan, from the Clavering area of Hartlepool, were today distraught to speak about her death.

Of the injured parties, both of whom are also from Hartlepool, the man was last night being treated in Middlesbrough's James Cook Hospital with his condition being described as "critical but stable".

The woman was taken to Sunderland Eye Infirmary where she remained last night.

Police said no other car was involved and have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, which happened two miles north of the A689 interchange and less than half a mile south of Dalton Lane, Dalton Piercy, Hartlepool.

Any witnesses who can help police with their inquiries should contact acting Sergeant Russ Jordan, of the Cleveland Road Policing Unit, on (01642) 301558.