More floral tributes have been left at the scene of the tragedy and his heartbroken girlfriend Alley Cronin has spoken of the huge loss she has suffered.

BOOK OF CONDOLENCE: Click the link to add your tribute

An ever-growing list of emotional messages are being placed on the Mail's online Book of Condolences which paint a picture of the promising teenager who died just weeks after celebrating his 18th birthday.

Darren, of Ventnor Avenue, Hartlepool, was killed after a collision involving his Peugeot car and a van in Tees Road, Seaton Carew, late on Tuesday night.

His distraught parents, Amanda and Mark, have been too upset to speak about the tragedy. But friends and school bosses came forward to talk of the student they classed as a 'role model'.

Girlfriend Alley, 17, attended Hartlepool Sixth Form College with her devoted boyfriend, where school bosses spoke of him in glowing terms.
He was due to sit his A-Levels this summer and had plans to join the police force.

Tributes have been placed by people who did not know Darren and his family but who have suffered loss themselves.

One read: "I didn't know your precious child but I am sure the memories are and always will be purely beautiul."

An inquest into Darren's death is to open on Monday.