A TOUCHING tribute has been paid to two friends killed in a car crash.

Ju-Jitsu experts Michael Ettridge and Craig Dawson died after the soft-top Porsche 944 they were travelling in crashed into an electricity sub-station in Blackburn Road, Sharples, last November.

Mechanic Ricardo Czutkowna, aged 29, from Tonge Moor, was also killed. Driver Mr Ettridge, aged 32 of Bentley Street, Darcy Lever, and passenger Mr Dawson, aged 20 of Hill View Court, Astley Bridge, were both members of Bolton's Go-Shin Ju-Jitsu Club, based at the YMCA in Deansgate.

They were posthumously awarded black-belt grades by the club's 6th Dan chief instructor, 45-year-old Mike Ward.

His 17-year-old son Chris, of Tonge Moor Road, Astley Bridge, has now passed his black-belt grading and has dedicated the achievement he has aspired to for more than 10 years to the memory of Mr Ettridge and Mr Dawson.

He said: "I wanted to do it because they were more like brothers to me than friends. They were fantastic characters. They were always happy and loved to laugh and joke.

"Both of their families have said that it is a great idea and a fantastic way to honour their memories. I will think of them everytime I train."

Mr Ward added: "They were the life and soul of this club. They will always be in our thoughts."