Mother's anguish at son's death

And she added her voice to those around the neighbourhood calling for action to be taken on the treacherous Queensway road.

Sheena Hogg, 36, told how Aaron - the third eldest of six brothers - was a lively boy with many friends both in the neighbourhood and at school.

She said: "He was full of life. He was always coming out with silly little comments. He came up to me only last Saturday to tell me it was only three months and 27 days until his birthday. It hasn't really sunk in yet at all. You just wait for the knock on the door saying it's all a big joke, even though you know it's never going to happen."

Aaron was being driven home from cadet training in Bexhill Road on Monday night when the car was involved in a collision with a Citroen ZX travelling in the opposite direction. He was killed instantly.

Mrs Hogg said: "They were just on the way back from the cadets. He'd been five times, about twice a week. We enrolled him on Saturday night and had him fitted for his uniform.

"It was a major interest of his. He thoroughly enjoyed it. He was hoping to become a proper soldier. He also loved his bike and playing football. His favourite team was Manchester United."

Aaron had just begun his Year 9 education after the summer break at Hillcrest School, having previously studied at William Parker and Elphinstone Junior Schools.

Mrs Hogg said: "Aaron loved Hillcrest. He'd been bullied at his last school and we had to take him out. But he'd had no problems at Hillcrest and made hundreds of friends.

"The school have been absolutely fantastic. They have asked if they can come to the funeral which is a really nice offer."

Other passengers in the Ford Granada included car mechanic Ken Thornett, 48, his girlfriend Angie Woollcott, 32, and daughters Lauren, 14, and Chelsee, 12. Mr Thornett was killed in the collision, while Ms Woollcott remains critically ill at the Chelsea and Westminister Hospital in London. Daughters Lauren and Chelsee are in a stable condition at the Conquest Hospital. Aaron had been dating Lauren for nearly a year.

Mrs Hogg said: "He had been with Lauren nearly eight months. They were very close.

"We've tried to find out as much as we can about how they are doing. I didn't know Ken all that well, but we got on fine.

"Me and Angie are quite close, and Lauren and Chelsee were like part of the family. Chelsee is going out with Stephen and Lauren was Aaron's girlfriend."

Aaron's father Reg, 41, and five brothers Darryl,16, Stephen, 15, Nathan, 12, Ryan, 11, and Cameron, 10, added floral tributes to their brother on the roadside this week.

Mrs Hogg said: "People in the neighbourhood have been absolutely fantastic. We've had cards, balloons, and we seem to have had the whole neighbourhood round here.

"There's going to be about 200 people at his funeral. He's going to have a very good send-off."

Mrs Hogg has now raised a petition calling for safety measures on Queensway, regarded as one of Hastings' most dangerous road. Her petition has so far attracted over 150 signatures.

She said: "They've got to do something about that road. The kids used to ask if they could go fishing out at the reservoir, but the road is too dangerous.

"They should put a bridge over the road so children can cross over safely. They need to slow the speed down. You get lorries down there and everything. The kids haven't got a chance.

"There have been four accidents in the last month. They need to get cameras and speed humps, they need to do the works."