ST HELENS musicians have been among those paying tribute to a Warrington indie band and their manager who died after the car they were travelling in plunged more than 80ft into a canal in Sweden.

The four members of Viola Beach and manager Craig Tarry were killed after their vehicle crashed just hours after they had played a gig.

Tributes are being paid to the group - whose members were Kris Leonard, River Reeves, Tomas Lowe and Jack Dakin - and Mr Tarry following the accident in Sodertalje, 18 miles from the capital Stockholm, in the early hours of Saturday.

Highly rated St Helens band Stillia and established tribute act The Clone Roses were among those to express shock as news of the tragedy emerged on Twitter this morning.

Stillia wrote on their Facebook page: "Devastated and shocked is understatement.

"Was lucky enough to see them play at the Cavern.

"They were on the way to big things in our country and abroad.

"What a band. Such a sad loss."

In a statement, the family of Mr Reeves, 19, said: " We are all heartbroken following River's tragic death and the circumstances which have seen him lose his life alongside the band-mates and manager he adored and loved being with.

"Viola Beach were on such an exciting journey and River could not have been happier. He would have loved to have stuck around for the party.

"All River wanted to do was perform and entertain and to think that he will never make us laugh again with his ridiculous impressions and cheeky banter is beyond comprehension for all his family."

Mr Tarry's family said they were " devastated" and "grieving the loss of their son and also for the other families involved in this tragic accident".

They added: "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."

River's family said he had "such talent and such humility, such charm and such innocence it seems so unfair that he can be taken so cruelly from us like this".

"We are so proud of him, not only for what he achieved in his short, beautiful life, but also what he was clearly destined to achieve. He will live forever in our hearts and we hope the band's wonderful music lives on," they added.

The band had played the Where Is The Music? festival in Norrkoping, Sweden.

A musician who played at the gig said there had been "a lot of snow" that day and Mr Tarry had not been drinking at the event because he was driving.

John Olsson, from Swedish band Psykofant, told the Press Association: ''We shared a dressing room. They were fantastic people to be around. Very happy and chirpy.

''With their charming British accents, they were like the Beatles in A Hard Day's Night.

''They were a great band. I was standing in the audience thinking I will be able to say I hung around with Viola Beach before they made it big.''

Viola Beach are described as an ''indie pop'' band on their Facebook page, with Mr Leonard on guitar and vocals, Mr Reeves on guitar, Mr Lowe on bass and Mr Dakin on drums.

The four-piece released their debut single Swings & Waterslides last year and had featured on BBC Introducing, which showcases up-and-coming music artists.

Swedish police said they were called to the incident at about 2.30am and divers recovered the bodies of the victims.

The bridge, at the Saltskogs junction between the E4 and the E20 motorways, has a middle section that rises directly upwards without tilting, leaving a gap that the Nissan Qashqai drove into, police said.

A barrier, 50 metres before the opening, has flashing lights and warning signs, the officer handling the case said.

Inspector Martin Bergholm said: ''For some reason, the car drove through the barriers and crashed down into the canal.'

''The witnesses just saw a car beside them and kind of disappear.''

Viola Beach, who previously toured with The Courteeners, were just weeks away from playing a homecoming gig at Warrington's Pyramid on March 12. They had also announced plans to play their biggest home town show at the Parr Hall on October 1.

They had been scheduled to play at the Boiler Room in Guildford on Saturday. Posting on Instagram, the venue said it was "saddened and devastated" to learn of the fatal crash.