TRIBUTES have been paid to two salesmen from the North-East who died in a car accident near Manchester.

Kevin Mallows, 20, of Potter Place, in Stanley, County Durham, and Neil Armstrong, 20, of Staithes Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, died on a slip-road off the M602 in Eccles, along with colleague Simon Butterfield, 20 of Wirral, Merseyside, on Friday.

The salesmen were living together in Manchester and were in a car driven by an unnamed 31-year-old friend, from Prudhoe, Northumberland, who is recovering in hospital.

Mr Armstrong's devastated family described how he had been due to return home for the weekend with some good news.

His proud parents, Lynn and Harry, told how their son had realised his dream of being accepted for police training after spending two years working for the Manchester Evening News.

Mrs Armstrong said: "It's all he wanted to do. It was a surprise - he was coming home to tell us himself, but he never made it. Now we know, we are very proud.

"Neil was the sort of boy who would help people. He even stopped fights in the street and always looked out for his older brother.

"He was just a gentle giant."

His mother said sports-mad Neil was a home-loving man who came home every Friday night and was always on the phone to check on his family.

"He loved life, he loved people. There isn't a dictionary with enough words to describe how good a lad he was."

A former West Redcar School pupil and Middlesbrough Art College student, Neil also leaves a brother Richard, 24.

For his funeral, Neil will wear an England shirt his family had just bought him, but which he never got to wear. A Carling Cup final scarf will also lie with him.

Kevin Mallow's grieving family spoke of the overwhelming support they had got from the community following the death of their popular son.

His mother, Carol, and stepfather, Keith Pounder, were given the news when they returned home from a wedding anniversary meal.

Mr Pounder said: "It has come as a big shock to everyone. Everyone is devastated. He was so friendly.

"His friends have had a whip-round, people have been leaving cards and putting flowers on our fence."

Mr Mallow, who was a passionate Newcastle United fan, had just returned to work - against the urgings of his family - after being off sick with a back problem.

Mr Pounder said: "Kevin wanted to return to get money together for a holiday."

He added: "The driver of the car was a good friend of Kevin."

Kevin is survived by brothers Richard, 19, Lee, 18, Graeme, 17, and Keith, 14, and sister Tiffany, 13 who his mother said had pulled together learning of the tragedy.