An 18-year-old carpenter who died in a head-on smash on the south Shropshire border was today described by his parents as the “perfect son”.

Family and friends spoke today of their grief at the death of teenager Lewis Mather, who was killed in the two-car crash near Wigmore on Friday.

His parents, Jayne and Richard Mather, said their perfect son never had a cross word with anyone and was always smiling.

Mrs Mather said: “He was such a caring lad. He was so thoughtful. All his life all he talked about was getting a girlfriend, getting married and having children. He would have made a great father.”

Lewis was born in Craven Arms and lived in Leintwardine before the family moved to Adforton on the south Shropshire border.

An 18-year-old carpenter who died in a head-on smash on the south Shropshire border was today described by his parents as the “perfect son”.

Family and friends spoke today of their grief at the death of teenager Lewis Mather, who was killed in the two-car crash near Wigmore on Friday.

His parents, Jayne and Richard Mather, said their perfect son never had a cross word with anyone and was always smiling.

Mrs Mather said: “He was such a caring lad. He was so thoughtful. All his life all he talked about was getting a girlfriend, getting married and having children. He would have made a great father.”

Lewis was born in Craven Arms and lived in Leintwardine before the family moved to Adforton on the south Shropshire border. He was a pupil at Wigmore High School.

He was an apprentice joiner for Hazlin of Ludlow while completing a course at Herefordshire College of Technology. His father said he was overwhelmed by the flood of cards and phone calls from people who wanted to pay their respects.

Mr Mather said his son had recently returned from Romania, where he had shared his skills in helping to improve the lives of people living in the Saxon villages of Transylvania, designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Lewis’s funeral at Wigmore Church on October 27 at 2pm will be followed by burial at the village cemetery. As well as his parents, Lewis leaves his sister, Rachel.