A teenage driver who crashed his parents' £22,000 sports car, killing himself and his passenger, has been named.

Driver Christopher George, 18, and passenger Gareth Stew, 17, both from Eastbourne, were killed instantly when the Lotus Elise hit a tree and overturned on the A26 at Tarring Neville, near Newhaven, on Sunday night.

The 125mph car belonged to Christopher's family and he was insured to drive it.

It is believed he had permission to be at the wheel on the night of the crash.

Staff at the school where Gareth, of Northiam Road, was studying for his A-levels were shocked by his death.

A spokeswoman for St Bede's, a private secondary school at Upper Dicker, near Eastbourne, said: "Gareth was very popular with his friends and his teachers. There is a great sense of shock here. We're all very sad."

Gareth, who was studying history, English and media studies, hoped to go to university.

His neighbour, Janice Grundy, said: "He was an only child. He loved fishing, rugby and he also played the piano and sang. He was a perfect young man going on to be a perfect gentleman."

Christopher also studied at St Bede's but left after completing his GCSEs. It is understood he left to join his father's business.

The road was closed for four hours following the fatal crash.

The £22,000 Lotus, which can reach 60mph in six seconds, hit a tree, rebounded across the carriageway and rolled on to its roof.

Christopher's parents came upon the scene when they went looking for their son after he failed to return home.