Tributes have been paid to the brother and sister who died in a Londonderry road crash yesterday.

The siblings, today named as 16-year-old Darren McNicholl and 20-year-old Natasha McNicholl, were described as young people "full of life, and full of personality".

Darren, returning from a GCSE exam, died when his sister's car collided with another vehicle on the Ballymulligan Road outside Moneymore at around 1.30pm.

Natasha was also killed in the incident.

Two of the four people travelling in the second vehicle were treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Darren and Natasha's family were last night being comforted by friends and relatives.

SDLP councillor Mary Baker, a neighbour of the McNicholls, said the family had been left distraught.

Describing Darren and Natasha, she said: "They were so full of life, just like everyone at that age and full of personality,

"Darren was a fun loving boy, always out kicking football.

"Natasha was a beautiful girl. She had just finished her accountancy exams at university," she said.

"I have called with the family and they absolutely distraught. They are sitting about, just in a dream or a nightmare."

Environment Minister Sammy Wilson said the "scourge" of roads deaths on our society must end.

"There have been 52 people killed so far this year - that's 52 too many. At the same period last year there were 43 road deaths - that's 43 too many," he added.

(PR/JM)