TWO young friends and popular employees at an Exmoor pub have died after the car they were in plunged 15 feet into a flooded river.

Martyn Windsor, 25, from Brixham, was driving a blue Peugeot 306 convertible along a country lane between the A361 at South Molton towards North Molton when it crashed into the fast-flowing River Mole.

His friend, Paul Bovey, 24, from South Molton, was a passenger when the tragedy happened last Thursday night (October 11).

He had worked at Tarr Farm Inn, near Dulverton, for six months, which Mr Windsor had joined three months ago.

Emergency services were called to the scene just after 8am on Friday after a member of the public discovered them.

Mr Windsor was taken to North Devon District Hospital with serious injuries but died shortly afterwards and Mr Bovey was pronounced dead at the scene.

Richard Benn, owner of Tarr Farm Inn, said: “They were two incredibly nice young men – they were always very happy and always delighted to do whatever you asked them to do.

“It was a pleasure to have them around. Everyone here is devastated. It is such an incredible waste of life at that age.

“They were responsible young men. There have been several crashes on that corner, especially when it's wet, but no-one knows exactly what happened.”

Tributes have poured in for the pair, with separate Facebook pages set up in their memory each gaining about 1,000 ‘likes’.

On Mr Bovey’s page, Zoe Hatfield wrote: “Never forget such an amazing guy. Sadly missed by so many. Rest in peace, Paul.”

William Pope wrote: “I will see you again one day my friend. I will always think about you mate and you will never be forgotten.”

Chris Spooner wrote on Mr Windsor’s memorial page: “I can’t believe you were taken from us so soon. My heart goes out to your family. We were all very lucky to have known you.”

Chelsea Leah Davey added: “An amazing guy who shouldn’t have been taken from the world yet. Anyone who met him once would have loved him instantly. He was a star. One of a kind.”

The road was closed between 8am and 5pm on Friday while collision investigators tried to determine what had happened.

Anyone who saw the Peugeot travelling from Exmoor towards North or South Molton late on Thursday or in the early hours of Friday is being urged to get in touch with police on 101, quoting log number 148 or 12/10/12.