FAMILY and friends of two fathers killed by a hit-and-run driver during a family conkerpicking trip paid emotional tributes to the men on the first anniversary of the accident that caused their deaths.

Father-of-two Bryan Hardwick, 26, died in hospital hours after being struck by a car while crossing the road in Bishop Auckland, with toddler son Liam, and best friend David Weatherburn, 40, on October 11, last year.

Liam, now two, was thrown from his pushchair by the impact, and was airlifted to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, with serious head injuries.

Father-of-two Mr Weatherburn, 40, died in Darlington Memorial Hospital eight days later, on October 19.

Anthony Whittaker, 27, of Cheesemond Avenue, in Bishop Auckland, was jailed for ten years in March for causing two deaths by dangerous driving, stealing six crates of lager, driving while disqualified, and drink driving. He was banned from driving for 17 years.

The accident devastated the close-knit Wooodhouse Close Estate, in Bishop Auckland, where the two men lived.

Mr Hardwick’s fiancee, Kayleigh Sanderson, 22, also mother to Brogan, four, moved house after being unable to face returning to the home she had shared with Mr Hardwick and their children.

“It still feels like Bryan is away, but will come back and we will all go home again,”

she said.

“I don’t think Liam understands what happened. One day, he said he wanted to send some shells to Daddy in heaven.

“We call the grave Daddy’s little garden, and the kids first visited it on Father’s Day.”

Friends of Mr Weatherburn, who had two sons David, 13, and Kieran, ten, described him as “a good bloke who would help anyone”.

Mark Elliott, who was with the group that fateful day, said: “It is a tragedy that should never have happened.

I knew David for 30 years. He was a character, and a lovely lad. He loved singing Elvis songs on the karaoke.”

Friend Billy Hopps said: “David and Bryan are both a big miss.”

On behalf of Mr Hardwick’s parents, Lynn and John, and brothers Kevin and Steven, Miss Sanderson thanked people for their kindness and support.

“It has been unbelievable,”

she said. “We would like to thank the air ambulance, the hospitals in Middlesbrough and Durham, everyone who helped the police investigation, Woodhouse Community Primary School, the Reverend Brenda Jones, and Woodhouse Community Church.”

Several witnesses to the accident, including Brogan, are receiving counselling, and Liam may need further surgery on his eye.

Family and friends will visit the scene of the accident tomorrow to leave tributes.