Viola Beach: Families of band killed in Swedish canal crash pay tribute to musicians and their manager

Stockholm police say all four members of the band and their manager were killed when their car plunged 82ft into a canal

The families of the British band Viola Beach have paid tribute to them after they died along with their manager in a Swedish canal crash.

Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe, Jack Dakin and their manager Craig Tarry were killed after their car plunged more than 80ft off a bridge into a canal in Stockholm in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The band had just played their first international gig and were due to perform at a gig in Guildford, Surrey on Saturday evening.

The family of guitarist Mr Reeves told the BBC they were "heartbroken" by his death. They said all he wanted to do was perform and he "could not have been happier".

Mr Tarry’s family released a statement saying: "Craig was a warm, loving person who had worked tirelessly to achieve success and follow his dreams within the music industry.

"He will be sadly missed by his family and his colleagues."

The Warrington-based four-piece were in Sweden playing at a music festival on Friday.

BBC Radio 1's Huw Stephens said the band were "incredibly promising", had already built a loyal fan base and were touring with bigger bands.

Fellow indie musicians also tweeted their tributes to the band which officially formed in May last year:

Police in Stockholm said the accident happened when the car hit a roadside barrier and fell through a gap in the bridge which had opened to let a ship pass through.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We can confirm that five British Nationals died in a car accident in Sweden on 13 February.

"We are in contact with local authorities and supporting the families at this difficult time."