EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to three “fabulous bright young girls” who were killed in a devastating crash on the A12.Sisters Claire and Jennifer Stoddart, 18 and 15, and their close friend Carla Took, 18, were killed after a Renault Laguna collided head-on with their Vauxhall Astra on the A12 at Blythburgh, near Southwold, early on Saturday morning.

By David Lennard

EMOTIONAL tributes have been paid to three “fabulous bright young girls” who were killed in a devastating crash on the A12.

Sisters Claire and Jennifer Stoddart, 18 and 15, and their close friend Carla Took, 18, were killed after a Renault Laguna collided head-on with their Vauxhall Astra on the A12 at Blythburgh, near Southwold, early on Saturday morning. The crash also killed Simon Bonner, 40, from Yoxford, who was travelling in the Laguna.

The girls were on their way back from watching the Red Hot Chili Peppers perform in Ipswich, a night out planned to be an end of term celebration for the promising Lowestoft students, two of whom had university places.

Yesterday, Claire and Jennifer's parents Heather and Phil said they were “devastated” by the loss of their daughters and added that since their deaths, they and their two other children, Amy, 12, and Tom, five, had received massive support from the community.

Mr Stoddart said: “This support represents a fitting tribute to the wonderful daughters they both were.

“Claire loved life, lived it to the full and had an infectious sense of humour. She was dedicated to her studies hoping to study pharmacy at Nottingham University, being predicted straight As in her A-levels.”

He added: “Jenny will always be remembered for being kind hearted and considerate, gentle natured and always caring for the needs of others. Like Claire she had many friends from both school and church.

“Jenny was a keen sports player, she loved music and excelled at school where she was considered a gifted and talented pupil.”

Yesterday, Jennifer's head of house at Benjamin Britten High School, Naomi Wright said her sudden death had left a “void” in the school.

She said: “My personal memory is of her smiling face. She would always have a laugh and a joke. She touched a lot of students, not just in her class but around the school.”

The school began the day with a special assembly led by headteacher Trevor Osborne to remember the girls and to help students deal with their grief. Counselling is also being offered to students.

Mr Osborne also pledged to help students who wanted to create a memorial for the girls, and said given their love of music a special rock concert at the end of term was one option being considered.

Inside the school, the busy courtyard area was opened for students to leave floral tributes or messages on bright coloured pieces of paper taped to the glass wall.

Among them one student has taped a wristband from Friday's concert, a poignant reminder of the girls' last night.

Three books of condolence, one for each girl, were also opened, and countless messages had already been left.

Remembering the girls, Mr Osborne said: “They were outstanding. Sometimes you meet kids who have this beauty around them because they are charming young people, with a fantastic outlook on life, positive and outgoing, helping other people. In addition they have a spark of brilliance.”