Three schoolboys killed on fishing trip

The schoolboys were killed after they were thrown from the maroon Ford Escort into a field.

It is thought they had been enjoying a bank holiday fishing trip when the tragedy occurred.

The victims were named locally as Chris Jolley, 15, and school pals Danny Archer and Richard Warren.

The 17-year-old driver of the car and a 42-year-old man who was driving a red Volkswagen Bora which was also involved in the crash were questioned by police on suspicion of death by dangerous driving.

Emergency crews were scrambled to the A131 between Halstead in Essex and Sudbury in Suffolk at 1.40am on Sunday.

The boys were all students at Hedingham School in Halstead and the chairman of governors described the horrific crash as a "dreadful tragedy".

Miles Scrivens also raised concerns about the winding road where the crash happened which he said had claimed too many lives.

He said: "Any loss of life of people so young is tragic and our thoughts are with the parents of the pupils at this time."

He continued: "The Halstead to Sudbury road has claimed far too many lives - it is a notorious stretch of road.

"There are a number of other schools in Essex and Suffolk which have been affected in the same way by this road."

More than a dozen floral tributes laid at the side of the road close to the crash site.

Cards at the scene named the teens as Ric, Danny and Chris.

A picture stapled to one shows a teenager dressed in school uniform. The message reads: "Dearest Chris, I love ya, I need you, I miss you. Forever your gal."

Another card read: "To Ric Danny and Chris, my best mates. So sad you've gone. RIP, love you all Rowan."

Police are calling for witnesses to the crash to come forward.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "Two vehicles had been involved in a collision a red VW Bora and a maroon coloured Ford Escort.

"The Bora was embedded in a hedge and the Ford Escort was in a field in two pieces.

"Three men believed to be aged in their teens had been thrown from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene."

The 17-year-old driver of the Ford Escort, who is from Halstead, was taken to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford where he was treated for minor injuries.

He was questioned but has been released on police bail until July 9 pending further inquiries.

The 42-year-old man from London, who is thought to be driver of the VW Bora, was not injured in the crash. He is still being questioned by detectives investigating the smash.

Police closed the road for six hours following the crash. Formal identification is not expected for several days.

On his Bebo.com web page, Chris Jolley said he was from the rural village of Mapelstead, near Halstead, and had written he loved loud music and films with fast cars and guns.

A female pal called Tilly wrote: "Baby I've never hurt so much. I never thought I'd lose the one I love." Richard Warren, known as Ric to his friends, was from the upmarket town of Halstead in north Essex.

The trio were all thought to be students at Hedingham School nearby.

On his Bebo website, Ric said he was an Ipswich Town FC football fan and said he was happiest when fishing with girlfriend Becca.

In a moving tribute she wrote: "I will always love u. U r always gna be missed by loads of people."