COUNSELLORS will be brought into a North-East primary school to help youngsters grieving for two members of staff who were killed in a car crash.

Teacher Gareth Newark and teaching assistant Laura Elizabeth Quinn, who both worked at Acklam Whin Primary School, in Middlesbrough, died following a crash on April 4.

Ms Quinn, 22, from Marton, in Middlesbrough, died at the scene and Mr Newark, 27, from Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, who was driving the car, died later in hospital.

The pair were travelling in a red Vauxhall VX220 sports car when the incident happened.

The fibreglass car left the road and collided with trees on the B6271 Northallerton to Catterick road, near Great Langton, North Yorkshire, disintegrating upon impact. The road was closed for six hours following the crash.

Fire crews had to cut away branches to allow paramedics access to the car.

Last night, tributes were paid to the "dedicated" staff.

Jan Brunton, chairman of the school governors, said Ms Quinn and Mr Newark had been good friends.

She said: "Everybody in the school community is devastated.

"They were very popular at the school and Gareth was always busy and always doing something. He had just finished a masters degree and was working on a PhD.

"Gareth and Laura were friends, and he'd offered to take her to look at a car because she was excited at just passing her test.

"They were dedicated staff who will be greatly missed.

"The local authority has a pupil support division, which will be helping at the school on Monday when the children return.

"They will be there to speak with any pupils, staff or parents that may want to talk."

Mr Newark had been a teacher of year six pupils and had recently returned from an adventure trip away with the school.

He had worked at the school for four years.

Ms Quinn was a teaching assistant in the school's nursery.

An inquest was opened and adjourned last week.

North Yorkshire Police said the inquest was adjourned to allow further investigations into the cause of accident to be carried out.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 0845-60-60-247