A 22-year-old student and former pupil at Ermysted’s Grammar School, Skipton, who died in a car crash, was due to graduate at Durham University today.

Mark Ashton, who as a boy played football for Skipton Town Juniors, died when his red Rover 25 was in a collision with a blue Ford Mondeo.

The crash happened at about 3.30pm on Saturday on the A59 at Samlesbury near Preston. He was freed from the wreckage by firefighters but died at the scene.

He was returning home to Skipton after helping his girlfriend, Rachael Daughton, at a garden fete at Samlesbury church.

The driver of the other vehicle was 29-year-old Ahmed Sadit, of Blackburn, who escaped with whiplash and shock. Mark and his parents, Lynne and Bernard, and his elder sister, Sarah, moved to Skipton in 1994 and he was a pupil at Water Street School in the town.

He gained a place at Durham after studying at Ermysted’s Grammar School and was due to graduate today, having achieved a first-class Masters Degree in electronic engineering. He had been vice-president of his college, Trevelyan, and had been awarded half colours by the college.

His parents said: “Mark was a keen footballer playing for Skipton Town and later for Trevelyan College. He enjoyed outdoor pursuits and was always enthusiastic in all he undertook. Due to his ecumenical upbringing he was actively involved with several churches in Skipton.

“He would have been starting work in London in September, where he had secured a job with Siemens IT Solutions and Services as a graduate broadcast project trainee in media systems working with the BBC.”

Clive White, who helped run Skipton Town juniors, said: “Mark was a great team player, enthusiastic but always modest. His greatest asset was his speed.

“He often appeared like greased lightening to snatch the ball away from an opponent. It was always “Ashy to the rescue”. His death has come as a deep shock.”

A memorial gathering was held at Trevelyan College yesterday for Mark’s friends and colleagues. The Dean of Science was due to pay a special tribute to him during the engineering graduation ceremony at Durham Cathedral this afternoon.

Dr Nigel Martin, principal of Trevelyan College at Durham University, said: “The University and college community is absolutely devastated by this news, and we are offering our very deepest sympathy to Mark’s family and friends.”