THE heartbroken families of young men killed in car crashes have joined forces with the emergency services to deliver a hard-hitting road safety campaign.

The parents of Nick Davidson and Michael Sanderson told teenagers at the WiseDrive - Drive for Life roadshow that their lives would never be the same following the death of their sons.

Anita Thompson, who has been taking part in the annual event at The Work Place, in Newton Aycliffe following the death of her son Nick in a crash near Barnard Castle in 2014, said she alway found sharing her experience difficult but did so to spare another mother going through the same heartache.

She said: “It’s difficult coming here but I do it because it’s important. I stand up there and tell my story to make it real for them. Let them see that I could be their mum stood up there talking about their brothers and sisters. It’s so easy to happen. We’re just a normal family. You think you’re invincible at that age but you’re not.

“If we can get into the minds of young drivers before they actually learn to drive and give them some insights into what the dangers and consequences of their actions are then it’s been worth it. I hope they go away with a positive attitude towards driving.”

Billy and Steph Sanderson, who lost their son Michael in a car crash in Newton Aycliffe in 2015, also spoke to the students at several sessions over the course of the 11-day event.

Michael was just 24 when he was killed while a passenger in his friend's car.

Mr Sanderson said: "When we lost Michael, it was the worst night that we ever went through as a family and it's destroyed us."

The 56-year-old added: "Young people think they are invincible so WiseDrive is all about anti-social driving and reminding them of the safety around it.

"It's really difficult for us to be here but if we can stop one family having to make a video about their son or daughter because someone listened here, then it's been a good thing."

Mr Sanderson, said Michael's sister, Rachael, 20, was now training to be a mental health nurse following her experience and Michael would be proud of his family's message.

The day has been organised by the emergency services in County Durham and Darlington as well as Durham county Council.

Students from more than 25 secondary schools are taking part, with more than 1,000 pupils listening to the important message and taking part in different activities.