A COMMUNITY is reeling after two cousins lost their lives in a fatal car accident.

Aaron and Dean Heasley died on Monday night after the car they were travelling in smashed into a tree near Millom.

The pair were travelling on the A5093 between The Hill junction and Millom junction at around 9.30pm when the blue VW Golf left the road at the left-hand bend by the entrance to Ghyll Scaur Quarry and hit a tree.

Aaron Heasley, 25, of Victoria Street in Millom, and Dean Heasley, 24 of Settle Street in Millom, were pronounced dead at the scene.

A 26-year-year old man, who had been sitting in the rear seat of the car, was taken to Furness General Hospital with serious leg injuries.

Tributes have poured in in memory of the men who have left behind a vast number of grief-stricken friends and family.

Natalie Eland wrote on the Evening Mail’s Facebook page: “I just can’t come to terms with what has happened – it really just isn’t true to me.

“I love you with all my heart always have and always will and also your little boys love you just as much and they will remember their daddy every minute of everyday.

“Love you both so much. Sleep tight boys.”

Another tribute left by Melissa Smith said: “We will miss you all. You were both cousins but treated each other like brothers.”

Although the town remains in shock, members of the Millom community have spoken out to pay tribute to the men and their families.

Denise Burness, mayor of Millom, has offered her condolences but hopes something will be done to make the town’s roads safer.

She said: “Any loss of life is a tragedy but the loss of young lives is even more of a tragedy.

“My thoughts go out to the family – it doesn’t bear thinking about what they’re going through.

“It makes you think how suddenly things can happen in these ways and I’m hoping action will be taken to make it safer out there.”

Councillor Jack Park, Millom town councillor for Holborn Hill, said: “It’s terribly upsetting that this has happened.

“I really feel for the parents and families at this time.”