The 'amazing mother' and her 'brilliant' son killed in car smash just hours after he graduated with first class degree

Ben Dalah, 21, from Edgware, his mother Nadia, 50, and father Freddy were travelling back from Birmingham University when their Saab was hit by a lorry and another car on the M6.

Mr Dalah, 53, who was driving, received minor injuries in the crash on Friday afternoon.

Tragic: Ben Dalah, 21, (left) and mother Nadia, 50, died in a motorway crash while driving home from his graduation ceremony

Friends told today how having received a First in economics, Ben was preparing to travel before taking up a graduate job at leading consultancy company Deloitte.

One if his closest friends, who met him while studying in Birmingham, said: 'Graduation was the proudest day of his life. He always said that a 2:1 was enough for him but he worked to get the First for his parents.

'He worked so hard to get it and nothing was going to stop him. Ben would spend from eight in the morning until ten at night in the library working.

Graduation day: Ben (left) worked long hours to achieve his first class degree at Birmingham University

'He was a very determined and competitive person and always talked about wanting to find one thing in the world that he was best at.

'I know his parents were extremely proud of him  -  they couldn't stop talking about him.'

He added that Arsenal fan Ben had just returned from a holiday to Croatia with a friend and was looking forward to going to Thailand.

'Ben was such a great friend and loved by so many people because he was generous, caring and would do anything for anyone. He will be greatly missed by everyone.'

'A great friend and loved by so many': Ben (right) showed such promise

He added that Mrs Dalah was the youngest of nine children and was originally from Iraq. He recalled that she had married Ben's father in Israel in 1979.

'She was an amazing mother,' he said.

'Whenever we were around her house, she would be bringing us food and looking after us.'

Ben's father and brothers Andrew, 26, and Josh, eight, were being supported by the Jewish community in Edgware as they prepared for the double funeral.

Leicestershire police are still investigating the cause of the collision involving the Dalahs' Saab, a Renault Clio and a lorry on the M6 at Junction 1 near Rugby.

The drivers of the Renault and the lorry were unhurt.

A police spokesman said a man had been arrested as a result of the crash but was released on bail pending further inquiries.