Tributes have been paid to two hop pickers who died in a crash in Hawkhurst.

Roy Little, 44, from Sandhurst, and 50-year-old Stephen Jones, from North Wales, were killed instantly when the car they were in crashed into a wall on the A268 Rye Road at 9.30pm on Saturday.

A girl, who is believed to be 16 and from East Sussex, is fighting for her life in London’s King's College Hospital while another teenager, believed to be her brother, and the vehicle’s 30-year-old driver have been released.

Both men were well known in Sandhurst, with Mr Little, who lived on the Tanyard Estate, working at Hoads Farm vineyard for 12 years and Mr Jones travelling from Llanfairfechan to pick hops there every summer for 26 years.

Christopher Nicholas, who runs the farm with his mother Anne, said: “Roy and Steve were well known in the village and extremely likable people. They were always cheerful.

“Roy was much loved and will be sadly missed. Steve would come down every year and we always looked forward to seeing him. We’re very sad it won’t happen again.”

Floral tributes have been left at the scene.

One message, accompanied by a paw print, reads: “Sleep tight little Roy. I will miss you, Daisy will miss you. All our love."

The tragedy happened when the red Volvo hatchback the group were travelling in left the Sandhurst-bound carriageway near Foxhole Lane and crashed into a wall before ending up on its side.

The incident triggered a huge emergency response and saw the road closed for six hours.
No arrests have been made and detectives are appealing for information.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or saw the Volvo just beforehand, and has not yet spoken to police, is asked to call police on 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting reference DK/BG/214/17.