TRIBUTES poured in today for the four Sussex victims of a death crash in Australia.

Brothers Ben and Martyn Hebblethwaite, 20 and 22, and friends Peter Standing, 21, and Timothy Skipp, 23, died instantly when their rented car was hit by a truck in Queensland.

Friends and relatives of the victims gathered at Brighton Road Baptist Church, Horsham, yesterday as news of the tragedy spread.

Martin and Ben had both been pupils at Tanbridge House School in Horsham.

School head teacher Peter Thomas led the tributes.

He said: "Teachers remember them as very pleasant, hard-working pupils. Ben tended tended to be the quieter more serious pupil, whereas Martyn was more outgoing.

"Both boys left the school with very good GCSE results, which was a reflection of the commitment to work which both had made during their time here."

Martyn later went to Collyer's Sixth Form College in Horsham between 1993 and 1995.

He gained A-levels in government and politics, media studies and history.

Registrar Hilary Broadhurst said: "He was a very intelligent young man, and was very interested in the media and making films.

"He was a very likeable young man. It is tragic this should happen to such a young person."

Peter, who attended Cardinal Newman School in Upper Drive, Hove, was described by teachers as a model student.

Christine Graves, head of sixth form at the school, said: "He was everything that, as a Catholic school, we hope our pupils would be.

"He was a very warm person who cared about the people around him and took part fully in school life.

"Peter had a very wide circle of friends and was well-liked by everybody. He had a keen interest in music and was involved in the school orchestras.

"He also played drums in a band some of the students formed and they played together both at school and at other venues.

"He spent five days gaining work experience with Virgin Airways at Gatwick because he was fascinated by flying and travel.

"He wanted to prepare himself for a career in civil aircraft engineering and was interested in piloting and light aircraft. I don't know if he ever got his pilot's licence."

Last year Peter spent time in Brazil working with others to try to help the country's street children.

He went back to Cardinal Newman to see his old teachers at Christmas.

Christine said: "He told them about his work in Brazil and all the places he had been to and wanted to see.

"All the teachers who dealt with him as a pupil say what a super person he was. The whole school is saddened by his death."

Peter's father David said: "They were just a group of students spending some time travelling in Australia.

"Peter had been taking a year out from Swansea University where he is studying for a geography and had been in Australia for two months. The others had gone out later and met up with him."

Mr Standing, 49, who runs the YMCA in Hove, added: "Peter was just so full of life and brought a lot of joy and happiness to us all.

"We are devastated but we are Christians and we have strong faith. Peter was also a Christian and that has given us comfort at this time."

Timothy, lived in Horsham, was the son of West Sussex deputy coroner Dr David Skipp.

A sign outside the surgery yesterday read: "It is with great sadness that we have to inform you of the death of Tim Skipp, son of David and Helen Skipp.

"Partners and staff would appreciate your patience at this difficult time."

His grandmother Eva, from Horsham, said last night: "Tim was such a lovely lad. He was very fit and loved his sports.

"But what I remember most about him is that he was so full of love. He would always give me a great big hug whenever he came to see me."

Dr Skipp drove to Bristol yesterday to break the news to his daughter, who is studying at medical college.

Last night all three families appealed for time to come to terms with their loss.

Ajoint statement issued through the Hebblethwaite family read: "At 3pm in the afternoon on May 24 our time, 12 midnight local time, Ben and Martyn Hebblethwaite, Tim Skipp and Pete Standing were involved in a car accident in Queensland, Australia.

All four died instantly when their car was struck from behind by a truck on the highway.

"All were close friends from Horsham and Hove in Sussex. They were travelling on a holiday in Australia and were en route from Sydney to Cairns when the tragedy struck.

"The families involved are grieving and would like to take the next few days to come to terms with the untimely loss of their dear ones."

Police were continuing to interview the truck driver involved in the accident last night.

The four victims had been celebrating Timothy's 23rd birthday when tragedy struck.

They were all killed instantly when the truck slammed into their car at traffic lights near Tully, Queensland.

Police said their rented Ford estate car had stopped at the lights just before midnight.

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