Two teenage friends were killed when a £22,000 sports car smashed into a tree and flipped on to its roof, an inquest heard.

Christopher George, 18, and Gareth Stew, 17, died instantly when the Lotus Elise left the A26 at Tarring Neville, between Lewes and Newhaven, on October 22 last year.

The 125mph two-seater convertible, which can reach 60mph in six seconds, hit a tree, rebounded across the carriageway and rolled on to its roof.

The road, which has a series of tight bends, was closed for four hours after the accident.

Christopher's parents came across the tragedy when they went looking for their son after he failed to reach a friend's home in Lewes.

Eastbourne Coroner's Court heard that the car, being driven by Christopher, of Rectory Close, Eastbourne, was travelling at speed.

Anna George, mother of Christopher - a property director who got the Elise on his 17th birthday - told the inquest her son and Gareth Stew had set off at 8pm, an hour and a half before the crash, to visit a friend.

She said: "We own a large farm and Christopher had driven off-road for years before passing his test. He was an experienced driver."

Both teenagers studied at St Bede's School at Upper Dicker, near Eastbourne, before Christopher left to join his father's business.

Gareth Stew had stayed on to take A-levels.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze recorded verdicts of accidental death.