MORE than 1,000 balloons will be released from a school yard on Thursday to pay tribute to the three victims of a horrific car crash which has torn a family apart.

Friends of Makayla Lund, who was injured in a car crash in France which killed her partner and two children, and left her youngest child fighting for his life, have organised the event to help raise money to pay for the funerals, and travel expenses for family members to be at her side.

Ms Lund, from Hartlepool, is in a stable condition in hospital in Lyon while her two-year-old son, Kyle Crompton, fights for his life. Her partner John Crompton, nine-year-old son Morgan Lund and four-year-old daughter Evie-Lily Crompton died at the scene.

The family were understood to be travelling home from holiday when their car crashed into a safety barrier on a motorway between Dijon and Lyon, at about 7am on Sunday.

Two mothers of children at Morgan and Evie-Lily's school, Barnard Grove Primary in Hartlepool, have organised a balloon release event on Thursday, and will be selling helium-filled balloons, and blue and red ribbon badges, to raise money for the family.

Nicole Readman said: "Everyone in the school is devastated for the family and we wanted to do something to help.

"They shouldn't be having to worry about paying for funerals on top of everything else and if we can help in just a small way then we will."

Ms Readman, and fellow mother Kayleigh Todd, have set up a Facebook page, Thinking of Makayla and her family, and will be giving updates on the fund on there.

A statement from Mr Crompton's family yesterday (Mon, Apr 25) said they had "lost the heart of our family" after the accident.

Barnard Grove head teacher Lee Walker said Morgan was extremely popular, with a "sense of humour, fun and positive attitude brought life and joy to all". Evie-Lily's "beaming smile lit up our nursery every single day", he said.

Mr Crompton was described as being the "life and soul of any party" by snooker club friends.

French authorities are continuing their inquiries into the collision.