A COMMUNITY will tomorrow say its final farewell to two young dads who were killed in a car accident.

Lifelong friends Andrew Keith Fairley, 20, and Alan Nicholson, 24, who lived just one street apart in West Cornforth, died when their car collided with a prison van last Thursday.

The funerals of both men will be held tomorrow (Friday) at the village's Holy Trinity Church. Mr Fairley's will take place at 10am and Mr Nicholson's at noon.

Mr Fairley, of Cedar Terrace, had become a father just four months ago to a son, Kyle, and Mr Nicholson, of Poplar Terrace, had a son, Callum, two, and a daughter, Abby.

Police believe Mr Fairley's Ford Fiesta veered on to the wrong side of the A688, about half a mile south of Bowburn services, and ploughed into a Leyland Daf van travelling in the opposite direction. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

There has been an outpouring of sympathy for their families in the tight-knit community of West Cornforth. Alan Hodgson, Sedgefield Borough councillor for the Cornforth ward, said: "The village is stunned by it.

"It is just awful that such young lads have lost their lives.

"My thoughts, and I'm sure those of everyone in the village, are with both lad's parents and grandparents at this painful time."

Both had been pupils at West Cornforth Primary School and Spennymoor Comprehensive School and despite being in different year groups they had been friends throughout that time.

Ken Hall, headteacher at Spennymoor School, said: "The school knows the families well and many staff have fond memories of both boys.

"We are very saddened to hear of this news and our sympathies and thoughts are with the two families."

Two staff from security firm Global Solutions Limited were trapped in the wreckage of the prison van, which had no prisoners on board, until fire-fighters were able to cut them free.

The front seat passenger in the van broke both legs and the driver suffered less serious injuries, both are said to be recovering.

Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident, which happened at 7pm, to contact Durham Constabulary's accident investigation unit on (0191) 375 2159.