TRIBUTES have been paid to two young men who died when a car plunged 15 feet into a swollen river.

Passenger Paul Bovey, 24, from South Molton and Martyn Windsor, 25, from Brixham, were found in the wreckage shortly after 8am last Friday.

Both men worked at Tarr Farm Inn near Dulverton and a colleague described them as "hardworking" and "likeable".

It is thought the convertible blue Peugeot 306 crashed some time during Thursday night. It was discovered by a member of the public on Friday morning and the police were alerted.

The two men are believed to have been travelling from the North Molton direction when the vehicle left an unclassified road which runs alongside the River Mole.

Mr Windsor was taken to North Devon District Hospital with serious injuries but died shortly afterwards.

Mr Bovey was declared dead at the scene.

His parents, Jackie and Keith, said his death had left a big hole in their lives.

He leaves two brothers, Ben and Matt, and sisters Zoe and Kelsy, as well as two nephews, Aidan and Rupert.

The road from South Molton to North Molton was closed until 5pm while specialist police accident investigators tried to establish how the accident happened.

Police are appealing for information from anyone who saw the car being driven in the area on Thursday evening or the early hours of Friday morning.

Anyone with any information should contact the police on the non-emergency 101 number, quoting log number "148 of 12/10/2012".