Tributes to cycle crash victims

Thomas with his father Jon who remains in hospital

Friends and family have been paying tribute to the four cyclists killed when a car skidded and spun into a group of 12 riders from Rhyl Cycling Club.

Thomas Harland, 14, was a credit to himself and his school, his head teacher Paula Edwards has said.

And the wife of Wayne Wilkes, 42, also killed in the accident said he was a "very quiet family man".

The father-of-four "always put his family first," said Jeanette Wilkes.

The Rhyl club's chairman Maurice Broadbent, 61, from Rhuddlan, Dave Horrocks, 55, from Llanerch, Mr Wilkes, from Rhyl and Thomas were all killed in the accident on Sunday.

[Tom] was always pleasant, hard-working and helpful, and had a great sense of humour Paula Edwards, Prestatyn High School

Dr Stuart Anderson, a good friend of Mr Broadbent, described him as "one of those genuinely nice people - a very modest but a very effective person.

"Maurice always took the right precautions - he was a very keen safety man," he added.

Thomas died alongside his three club members when a car skidded and spun into the group.

Paula Edwards, acting head of Prestatyn High School said Thomas was "an excellent pupil".

"He was a credit to himself, his family and the school. He was always pleasant, hard-working and helpful, and had a great sense of humour. He was popular with staff and pupils alike, and will be sadly missed.

"Our thoughts are with all of the families at this traumatic time."

Four cyclists, including a teenager were killed in the accident

She added that staff and pupils are "very upset" and a counselling service is being provided.

One group of youngsters walked around the school with a poster they had made as a tribute to their school friend.

Another pupil said they had held a minute's silence in Thomas' memory on Monday morning.

The cyclists had just set out from Mr Broadbent's home in Rhuddlan on a 60-mile round trip to Great Orme when the crash took place on a stretch of the A547 Rhuddlan Road.

David Horrocks' family said his death had come "as a total shock".

They added that he was "a loving, hard working and conscientious family man."

Crash scene

Thomas Harland's father, Jon, was also on the ride and suffered a broken leg. He remains in hospital and was visited by his friend of 20 years John Harvey.

"Words cannot describe what the family are going through, all four families," he said.

"Jon has lost his son and his three best friends, you don't need to ask how he is feeling."

Many people have visited the crash scene to pay tribute to the victims of the tragedy.

Jackie Buckley, 41, from Meliden, laid flowers on behalf of her 15-year-old son Lloyd, who was a friend of Thomas' and attended Prestatyn High School with him.

She said her son had been "devastated" by the young cyclist's death

"He was just too upset to come here, he is devastated," she said.

"He has gone to school because he wanted to be with all his friends. It is just so awful."

Police believe the driver of the car which hit the riders lost control on a bend because of ice.