The mother of two victims of the A23 horror crash has said: "I don't blame the driver."

Gloria Marshall, who lost her son Aaron Sharpe, 20, and daughter Katherine Sharpe, 18, said: "Inevitably there are people blaming someone but I am very sympathetic to the driver's parents.

"In no way do I blame the driver - even if it is shown he did make a mistake.

"He never set out to do anything like this - there was no deliberate intention. He was young and carefree - we were all like that once."

Mrs Marshall, of Gossops Drive, Crawley, said she had driven past the scene of the crash at Pyecombe, now a shrine of flowers, several times since the accident.

She said she had found herself driving more carefully since the crash and hoped all other motorists would follow suit to enable something positive to come from the tragedy.

Meanwhile, she appealed for an end to speculation over the cause of the crash, on Sunday last week.

She said: "It is very distressing to all the families when the rumours reach us."

Some rumours, including one that the driver was on a mobile phone at the time of the crash, are being broadcast on web sites.

Mrs Marshall, 50, said: "I've been trying to switch off from the rumour. When the police know all the facts they will tell me and they will be published."

Mrs Marshall said her two daughters Claire, 26, and Ceri, 28, had been "troubled" by allegations.

The truth, she said, was something she and all the relatives wanted to know, although, she added: "It will not bring our children back."

Eight people died when a BMW apparently leapt over the central reservation barrier of the dual carriageway and into the path of a Land Rover.

Her children died with their friends Gemma Stoker, 17, of Henshaw Close, Bewbush, Danielle Billingham, 17, who had just moved to Crawley, and Mitch Treliving, 19, from Faygate. Mitch is believed to have been at the wheel of the BMW.

Three people in the Land Rover died - Kate Beasley, 30, her husband Toby, 33, both from Godalming, Surrey, and two-year-old Marcus Mohabir, also from Godalming. They had been on a day trip to Brighton with Marcus' father Stephen, 30, who survived the crash.

His wife Tracey, also 30, missed the day trip with her family to attend a wedding.

Sussex Police have asked for an end to speculation over the crash.

Chief Inspector Jim Reade, leading Operation Devonshire, said: "We are aware of all sorts of stories circulating about the circumstances of this tragic incident.

"We are following up many but, invariably, when we trace them back they are based on something someone has been told by somebody else. Some of these stories are attaining the status of urban myths and are potentially extremely distressing to the affected families.

"In the meantime, our inquiries are continuing and we still want to hear from anyone who has not already spoken to us who has first-hand evidence, whether this relates to the incident itself, the events leading up to the incident or any mobile phone calls made or received, to contact the Operation Devonshire incident room on 0845 6070999.

"If you have information and don't want to leave your name, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."

Mrs Marshall's son's and daughter's funeral will be at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Old Horsham Road, Crawley, at 2pm on Wednesday. Donations for a memorial to them are being sent to Mrs Marshall's daughter's hair salon, Signatures, in Mill Road, Three Bridges.