An East Sussex mother was today grieving for her 13-year-old son, who died in a four-car crash on the A272.

Uckfield Community College pupil Laurie Suckling died after a smash on Sunday night which also left his father Stephen seriously injured.

Friends and relatives were today rallying round Laurie's mother Sarah at the family home in The Nightingales, Uckfield.

Mrs Suckling said her husband remained in hospital with broken ribs, facial and other injuries. She expected him to be discharged from hospital in Haywards Heath today.

Mr Suckling was driving a Volkswagen Golf at Piltdown, near Uckfield, when the crash happened. Laurie was a passenger in the car.

Two vehicles crashed head-on, then two more collided with the wreckage. Fire crews battled for more than an hour to free Mr Suckling and Laurie.

Pupils and staff at the community college said prayers for Laurie, who was remembered in assembly as a cheerful, intelligent and popular boy.

Teachers at the 1,500-pupil college, where Laurie was a Year 9 student, said he was a keen sportsman who excelled in judo.

His tutor Greg Orme said: "The main thing Laurie excelled at was being a bubbly, fantastically smiley young man who cheered everyone.

"He was respected and much loved and he will be badly missed."

Staff and students plan to plant a tree in his memory.