Tributes are being paid to four teenagers after their bodies were found in north Wales
The bodies were found in a car that appeared to have left the road near Tremadog, Gwynedd
"At present, this appears to have been a tragic accident," says Supt Owain Llewellyn
Police were alerted to the upside down Ford Fiesta, partially submerged in water, by a member of the public on Tuesday morning
Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen, Wilf Fitchett and Hugo Morris, aged between 16 and 18, were travelling in the Harlech and Porthmadog areas
The teenagers - who had attended the same school in Shrewsbury - had been missing since Sunday morning
It is believed the boys were camping in the Eryri area, also known as Snowdonia
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has sent his condolences to the families of the four boys who died.
He told the House of Commons: "I know the thoughts of the whole House will be with the family and friends of the four teenagers who died in a car accident in north Wales."
Image source, PA MediaFriends of the four boys James Love, 17, and Aflie Lawley,16, lit candles for their friends at Shrewsbury Abbey this morning.
James said: “I met all of them other than Hugo in secondary school, I valued our friendship and used to skate with Harvey.
"I have a lot of good memories, Jev was very close mates with my twin brother, I knew Wilf towards the end as he came to my gym and I wanted to look out for him and take him under my wing.
“They were lovely caring lads, wouldn’t say anything horrible to anyone, just amazing people."
Alfie added that the boys were funny and caring.
"There's not a bad thing to say about them they were just lovely lovely people.
"It doesn’t feel real to think that they’re not going to be here any more. I just have no words."
James said: "It’s just a horrible feeling all around knowing that some lads who were so close to you, that we saw every single day I’ll never see again, I’ll never hear their voices again.
"I just continue to try and make something good out of this horrible time, just do it for them."
Friends of the four boys who died in north Wales, James Love and Alfie Lawley
Quote MessageA small but emotional service had been held at the cenotaph in the village of Llanfrothen in memory of the boys who died. Flowers and photographs have been placed there. Local people say they wanted to do something in memory of them. There was a prayer and minute's silence.
Nick Servini, BBC Wales Today presenter
The clerk of Shrewsbury Town Council said the decision to cancel the town's Christmas lights switch-on was not taken lightly.
"We looked at all the possible scenarios of switching the lights on and having some kind of celebratory event.
"But having spoken to colleagues... we think the most appropriate thing to do is just to cancel the celebration of the start of Christmas that we would ordinarily do at this time of year."
She added that the lights will go on in the next couple of days, but will be on a timer and there won't be "a big celebration".
Quote MessageIn the village of Garreg, near the area that the car carrying the four teenagers was found, locals have gathered together to pay their respects and remember them. They began with a prayer and a minute’s silence followed.
Sion Tootill, BBC Wales reporter
The restaurant where Harvey Owen worked has paid tribute to him, calling him “easy-going, warm, funny, gentle, bright, hardworking and humble”.
Dough and Oil said he joined two years ago, starting as a pot washer “earning his stripes”, before moving front of house and then, more recently, into the kitchen.
“He gave it his all, developing a passion for dough and had dreams of one day opening his own bakery.
“This photo was taken only last week, showing his willingness to always play his part and be involved.
“Our love, thoughts and condolences go out to Harvey’s family and to those of his friends, their lives full of promise cut so tragically short.”
The restaurant is closed today following the news of Harvey's death.
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The hometown of four teenagers killed in a car crash in north Wales has cancelled its Christmas lights switch-on.
Shrewsbury Town Council made the decision after the deaths of Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris, whose bodies were found in an overturned car on Tuesday.
The ceremony was due to take place later in the town square.
It was described as “utterly devastating” news by Reverend Charlotte Gompertz, the vicar of Shelton and Oxon.
“I do know some of the families, not really close, but it is one of those places where everybody knows everybody and certainly some of the families are quite high profile folks within the community," she said.
“It is going to take a long time for us to get our heads even vaguely around this tragedy.
“We are at this point where, for the families of the loved ones close to the boys, we can’t do anything to ease their pain today, but for the community who are just lost and don't know where to take their grief, we are here.”
She added that the church has very strong connections with the community, and this is "where we step up, and play our part in such tragic times".
There has been a large outpouring of grief as people all over Shrewsbury remember the four boys, a spokesperson for Trinity Churches said.
It is offering a quiet space and place to remember.
Candles have been lit around photographs of the four teenagers.
Image source, Trinity Churches ShrewsburyThe news was "truly heart-breaking", said MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham Daniel Kawczynski.
"My thoughts go out to all those affected by this tragic news," he said.
He thanked the emergency services and local mountain rescue teams, as well as members of the public for helping with the search.
"On behalf of all constituents in Shrewsbury and surrounding villages, I would like to extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the families and friends of those who have been tragically affected by this terrible loss of life," he added.
"Yesterday evening I received messages of condolences from friends across the political spectrum in the House of Commons.
"The whole country were desperately hoping the boys would be found safe and well and this news is devastating."
Image source, UK ParliamentQuote MessagePolice are now at the scene once again and two officers are closing the area off to the public. The road, the A4085, where the silver Ford Fiesta was found yesterday has also just been closed again by the council. They had reopened it at around 20:00 GMT yesterday evening. The police cannot confirm when the road will reopen.
Sion Tootill, BBC Wales reporter
Local councillor June Jones says people are shocked by what’s happened, but added that the hardest thing for many was that they would have driven past the scene on Monday and not realised what had happened.
"The car was only spotted when a passing lorry driver saw it from the higher vantage point of his cab," she said.
The road remains closed on Wednesday morning
Quote MessageA single candle was lit overnight on the wall of a bridge where the accident happened. It’s now light in this part of Eryri and local people are heading to work along the A4085 which was closed for most of yesterday. Police are back at the scene where the accident happened searching in a field close to where the car was found. Daylight has given us chance to see the scene properly - it was behind a police cordon yesterday. The car seems to have come off the road at a bend and gone through a gap in the trees and bushes, then down a steep bank into a ditch or small stream. The bank isn’t very high, but big enough for the car to potentially vanish from view below the road.
Chris Dearden, BBC Wales reporter
The family of Wilf has requested his surname Fitchett is used, rather than Henderson, which has previously been reported.
North Wales Police had released his surname as Henderson during the search for the teenagers.
Image source, Family photoFollowing the news of the bodies of four teenagers being found in north Wales, Shrewsbury Town Council has cancelled its Christmas Lights switch-on., external
The event was due to place later today, starting at 16:30 GMT.
The Mayor of Shrewsbury Becky Wall was due to be switching on the lights.
Harvey Owen's mum said she is handing over the running of her business to her partner as she "cannot cope".
Crystal Owen said it was easier to mentally switch off and leave the shop open as usual, as she hasn't had time to organise the closure.
She said she "feels like she's in a nightmare that she wishes she could wake up from".
"I just wanted to say I do appreciate people’s kindness but no amount of messages is going to help me overcome this. Nothing will make this nightmare go away," she added.
The vicar of Shelton and Oxon in Shrewsbury, Reverend Charlotte Gompertz said: “It’s the worst news.
“It’s not what we prayed for when we heard they were missing.
“It’s impacting everyone, this is a tight-knit community where many of the young people have been at school together since they were four years old.
“This is utterly devastating for us.”
She added that people were already paying tribute to the boys.
“We opened the doors and just gave people some space,” she said.
"Our thoughts are with their family," said councillor June Jones, who represents the Llanfrothen area on Gwynedd's council - Cyngor Gwynedd.
"Today they are waking up to every parent's worst nightmare really and our thoughts are very much with the family.
"The whole community are thinking about their families at this time.
"As soon as we found out they had found the car in the river, it gave you the thought straight away that something quite serious had happened, or they would have got out, and then it's just played on throughout the day."
Trinity Churches is offering "time and space to pray" at the Trinity Centre in Meole Brace.
It will be open from 09:00 GMT, while Shrewsbury Abbey is open all day for prayer and reflection.
"Our prayers go out to all who are caught up in this terrible tragedy," a statement said.
Image source, Getty ImagesLisa Corfield, the mother of Wilf Henderson's girlfriend, has posted on Facebook saying she is "absolutely heartbroken for Maddi and all of the families involved".
"Wilf was such a lovely, kind lad and treated Maddi in a way only a mother could hope her daughter be treated," she said.