HUNDREDS of people gathered at a school in Hartlepool on Thursday night to pay tribute to two children and their father who died in a devastating road accident in France.

Nearly £13,000 has so far been raised in the close-knit town for the funerals of John Crompton, 31, and his son, Morgan Lund, aged nine, and daughter Evie-Lily Crompton, four.

The Northern Echo:

Four-year-old Evie-Lily Crompton, left, and nine-year-old Morgan Lund, centre, who both died along with their father John Crompton

The crash happened on the A39 motorway near Beaurepaire-en-Besse, between Lyon and Dijon, shortly after 7am on Sunday.

Another son, Kyle, two, and his mother, Makayla Lund, 25, remain seriously ill in a French hospital.

It is understood four family members have travelled to France to support Ms Lund.

The Northern Echo:

Mr Crompton, killed in accident.

Back in the North-East, more than 400 people, from small children to pensioners, gathered at Barnard Grove Primary School to release purple and white balloons in memory of those that died. Morgan was a pupil a the school, while Evie-Lily was in the nursery.

Organiser Nicole Readman comforted Morgan's tearful friends, Brodie Percival and Jack Teal, and said: “We just want to do anything we can to help.”

Family friend, Laura Austwicke, 22, set up a fundraising page in the aftermath of the tragedy, with the current total standing at nearly £11,500.

Another page has raised a further £1,250.

Ms Austwicke said: "There's no words to describe this. We just hope this money can help bring them all home."