TWO accidents on Cambridgeshire roads left three Fenland teenagers dead in the space of 24 hours.

Chatteris was already in mourning after former Cromwell Community College students Mitchell and Matthew Jacobs died in a collision with two white Scania mixing lorries.

And just a day later later Metalcraft apprentice Craig Bird, of Norwood Road, March, died in another two-vehicle collision near to the Ramsey Forty Foot.

Tributes from family and friends flooded in after neighbours said: “You all had so many friends who loved you.”

Their deaths bring the total number of fatals on Cambridgeshire roads this year to 21 - more than double the number killed in the same period in 2009. There have also been 141 serious injuries on the county’s roads this year compared to 217 in the same period last year.

Writing on Facebook, Denise Watson said: “I can’t believe that within 24 hours, three young boys have lost their lives in tragic accidents.”

The Cromwell Community College lunchtime supervisor wrote: “None of you will ever be forgotten.”

Amy-Carolanne Hicks added: “It just seems like one big nightmare. I just want to wake up and think it wasn’t true.”

Fenland’s darkest day began at 5.15pm on Wednesday (August 10) when Mitchell, 18, and Matthew, 19, of Saddlers Way, Chatteris, were travelling along Brockley Road in Elsworth, near Papworth Everard.

The pair were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

In a statement parents Rosemary and Mick, and sister Abbie, said: “Matthew and Mitchell were well liked and loved by many and will be dearly missed.

“Both boys had a fantastic sense of humour. Their deaths have left a huge hole in our lives and the lives of those who knew them.”

Matthew had just started as a volunteer at I-Trust in Waterbeach whereas Mitchell was an apprentice at Stagecoach in Cambridge.

Meanwhile Craig Bird had been picked out as one of Fenland’s rising young stars by Chatteris firm Metalcraft.

The 18-year-old was hailed as one of the company’s top apprentices and shook hands with Fenland District Council leader Alan Melton earlier this year. Cllr Melton met Craig during an open day at the Chatteris based Metalcraft to launch the company’s new apprenticeship scheme.

But a promising future was cut short when the Peugeot 106 he was driving was in collision with a Toyota Hilux in Doddington Road, Chatteris, close to the junction of Badney Road.

Cllr Melton said today he was “absolutely gutted” by the news and added: “He was such a nice young man and a pleasure to meet.”

Sophie Edwards wrote on Craig’s Facebook page: “My thoughts are with your family and friends. You’re going to be missed so much.”