THE devastated mother of a young submariner, who died in a car accident the day before he was due to join his first ship, has spoken of her grief.

Craig Samuels was killed when his Toyota MR2 left the A67 and hit trees near Piercebridge, about eight miles from his home in Westwick, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, on Sunday.

The 22-year-old sailor had been due on board his first posting - the submarine HMS Spartan - at the Faslane naval base on the River Clyde, in Scotland, the day after the tragedy.

Yesterday his mother, Carol, said: "I feel as if an angel has been with us for these short years.

"Craig was proud of his achievements, as we were, but it was his support and encouragement of others, along with his constant smile that we will always treasure."

Mrs Samuels said her son had been looking forward to joining his first submarine.

She said: "He made friends easily and was a very loving and loyal son and friend who will be very deeply missed. "

Last night, Commodore David Pond, commanding officer at the HMS Raleigh Submarine School, in Torpoint, Cornwall, where Craig studied, also paid tribute to him.

He said: "He was a young man of considerable ability who was just setting out on a promising career in the Royal Navy."

Police are still investigating the crash.

No other cars were involved and police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.