Tributes to 'six beautiful people'

David and Michelle Statham and their four children were killed when their silver people carrier exploded following a five-vehicle pile up.

The car was engulfed in flames, killing chef Mr Statham, 38, his 33-year-old financial advisor wife, and their children Reece, 13, Jay, nine, Mason, 20 months, and Elouise, just 10 weeks.

On Wednesday, neighbour Vince Collina, 49, said: "They were a wonderful, model family, just six beautiful people.

"The kids were so polite and the parents hard working, they were really neighbourly. They were always pleasant and chatty and really contributed to a sense of public spirit on the street.

"Everybody is really shocked and traumatised. They had lived here for about four years."

Mr Collina, a builder who lives doors away from the family in the centre of Llandudno, north Wales, said there was a horrible sense of worry yesterday when he discovered the six dead came from the seaside town.

He said: "My heart just sank when I found out and my mouth went dry. Then the confirmation came and it has just knocked us for six.

"The police called to ask about their car and at first I thought it had just been stolen. We just can't believe it."

The family had been visiting relatives in Birmingham before setting off for home on Monday night. At 9pm their car was in collision with a heavy goods vehicle between junctions 16 and 17 of the northbound M6. A Portuguese driver, aged 46, is in police custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.