The mother of a hugely popular 17-year-old boy who was killed in a car accident says Christmas Day is going to be “terrible” for her family.

Dee Mosedale, 53, lost her beloved son George when his car hit a tree in West Common Road, Keston, at around 11.30pm on June 17.

The former Hayes School pupil had driven his girlfriend home after telling his mother he would be straight back.

George never came home that evening, and for Dee and her family, their lives will never be the same again.

Dee, who is landlady of the Anglesey Arms in Palace Road, Bromley, said: “It will be terrible on Christmas Day.

“We have to do the best we can, George will be looking down on us.”

She added: ““We are still trying to come to terms with it. You don’t expect to bury your own children.

“We have a whole new life now, learning how to live with a big loss in our life.

“We are certainly changed people, which only someone who has lost a child would know what we are talking about.

“It was the worst thing that could have happened to you in your life.

“You realise what other people are going through who have lost loved ones.”

Since George’s death, the family has received fantastic support from friends and customers at their pub.

Around 900 people turned out for his funeral and 100 came to a party on what would have been his 18th birthday on September 13.

After his accident, police had to close the road he crashed in to allow 200 people to leave flowers and tributes.

Dee said: “He was such a likeable boy, when he walked through the bar everyone would say hello George.

“People have written to us saying you don't know us but we knew George, I don't think he will be forgotten.”

George was halfway through a two-year apprenticeship as a heating engineer at K&T heating services, based in Woolwich.

His mother said: “He had a bright future ahead of him, they thought the world of him at K&T.

“They said he was a natural and would have made the grade.”

Outside work George was a keen sportsman, who loved golf, football, snooker and swimming.

He was a semi-professional footballer for Welling United.

The coroner recorded George’s death as accidental, and his mother thinks he was not wearing his seatbelt.

She said: “I don't think he was wearing his seatbelt, which is a message that has to be got over to so many young people.”

As well as Dee, George leaves behind his father Charlie, his elder brother Tony, and elder sister Rosie.

His mother added: “It's like he’s still alive and about, not a day goes by where something doesn’t happen which reminds me of him.

“I still don't believe it, I still think he’s going to walk through the door. ”