The family of a man killed in a crash on the A500 have described him as a "lovely, popular lad" who lived for cars and computers.

Postman Lee Kalsevicius, aged 28, died on 3 July, 2008, alongside one of his closest friends, Andrew Gibson , in the horrific accident near Porthill, Newcastle.

Twenty-two year-old Andrew, from Burgess Street, Middleport, had been driving a Vauxhall Corsa along the northbound carriageway when he lost control of his vehicle on Thursday night.

Both he and Lee, who had been the front seat passenger, died at the scene.

Today, Lee's grief-stricken parents Ron and Linda spoke of how their son had brightened up the lives of many people, including the friends he knew from car enthusiast forums on the internet.

Mr Kalsevicius, from Hollington Drive, Fegg Hayes, said: "He would spend hours on his laptop communicating with people."

Lee's family stress he was not a boy racer. Instead, he had a passion for doing up cars and also travelled as far afield as Le Mans to watch his racing heroes in action.

Lee had even built his own racing car-shaped cabinet in his bedroom at Hollington Drive, which came complete with a car seat and steering wheel. He connected it up to his TV so he could sit in the car seat playing computer racing games.

Lee was a Royal Mail postman, delivering in the May Bank area, and first met Andrew when he dropped off mail at a garage where he worked. They became firm friends and would spend hours together on Lee's computer.

Mr Kalsevicius said: "You couldn't have wished for two nicer lads.

"Whatever happened in that car that night, they didn't deserve the ending that came."

Mrs Kalsevicius recalled how the police had turned up at their home in the early hours of Friday morning to break the devastating news.

"It just fell apart for us then," she said.

The last time Mr Kalsevicius saw his son was on Thursday evening, when Lee said he and Andrew were "just popping out".

"No one expects to see their children die before they do. I am proud of my son and always will be."

Mrs Kalsevicius added: "Lee was a good lad. He didn't bring trouble to the door."

She said Lee, a former Sneyd High pupil, was a doting uncle to his two nephews and two nieces. He also leaves behind stepbrother Colin and stepsister Julie.

In a tribute on The Sentinel's website, Andrew's dad Glenn, in Derby, said: "The sudden loss of my son Andrew is unbearable but to hear so many kind and sincere tributes from everyone that knew him is a great comfort. I was so proud of him."