The family of two newlyweds killed when a driver ploughed into their car on Christmas Day have paid tribute to the couple.

Christopher Mallet, 46, and wife Ann, 41, of Spalding, Lincolnshire, died in separate hospitals from injuries caused by the crash.

They had married just six weeks earlier.

Mr Mallett's sons, Darryl and Karl, were close to tears on Friday as they spoke about the deaths in the crash at Holbeach, Lincolnshire.

When Christmas comes around it is supposed to be the happiest time of the year but instantly it turned into the worst Darryl Mallett

Darryl, 21, said: "He was not just our dad, he was our best friend.

"He loved his family very much and he was there whenever we needed him.

"Nothing was ever too much trouble for him."

'True romantic'

Mr Mallett, a postman who was the lead singer in a local band, married his wife in the secret ceremony in Gretna Green.

His sons described him as a "true romantic" who had taken his wife to Italy and learned Italian so he could propose to her on a gondola in Venice.

Darryl Mallett said: "When Christmas comes around it is supposed to be the happiest time of the year but instantly it turned into the worst.

"We will miss him terribly."

'Bubbly person'

The two boys, aged 19 and 21, had last heard from their father on Monday evening when he had called to tell them how proud he was of them.

Darryl Mallett said Mrs Mallett was a "lovely person".

"He (Mr Mallett) loved her very much. She was such a bubbly person."

The couple died following a collision at about 0100 GMT on Christmas Day when a gold BMW with no lights showing ploughed into their car.

Moments earlier two police officers had seen the car and tried to pull it over, but the Polish driver, from Boston, Lincolnshire, sped away.

He was also killed in the crash but has not yet been named.