These are two of the the five teenage friends who had a miracle escape in a car which plunged 100ft over a cliff.

All of the youngsters were still seriously ill in hospital last night after the Ford Fiesta car crashed down the cliff at King's Parade at Eastbourne.

Two of them, Kelley Philips and Stephen Gandi, were in a critical condition in Eastbourne District General Hospital.

Stephen Tanner, Katie Thompsett and driver Peter King were also in a serious condition. All the victims are 17 years old.

A group of their friends watched as the wreckage of the mangled F-registered car was hauled up the cliff face yesterday.

Ann Crossey, mother of Peter King, who is believed to have passed his driving test a week ago, issued a statement following the accident.

The 50-year-old said: "My son Peter was driving the Ford Fiesta when it dropped over the cliff at Sugar Loaf at Eastbourne.

"All of us are very concerned and worried about the current condition of the children.

"All of them are seriously ill. Our main concern is to protect their welfare and peace of mind.

"I would like to thank the emergency services and especially the hospital staff for their caring attitude, understanding and professional expertise."

The accident took place at 5pm on Tuesday when the driver was attempting a three-point turn.

Peter attended Eastbourne College of Arts and Technology with the two other boys in the car, Stephen Gandi and Stephen Tanner.

All three were first year students on a special uniformed-services course run by the college with help from the Army.

Graham Lumb, a tutor at the college, said the teenagers would have finished their course tomorrow.

He said: "It has been designed to help people who want to help society and that is what is so tragic about this.

"These are people who want to serve the public."

The two girls are both A level students at Park College in Eastbourne.

Jorj Kowszun, deputy principal at the college, said they were dealing with the girls' fellow students who were upset about the crash.

He said: "It is important for us to be prepared to deal with their distress."

There has been no statement from any other members of the victims' families, many of whom have kept watch by the youngsters' bed-sides since they were rushed to hospital on Tuesday.

PC Niall Maloney, of Eastbourne Traffic Police, said: "There are several families whose children are critical. They do not even know what is going to happen to them.

"Obviously the long-term effects of what has happened on their children is what is primarily in their minds at the moment.

"It is going to be a long time before any of them are going to be well and happy again or want to talk about what happened."

More than 20 friends of the injured youngsters gathered anxiously in the hospital foyer and car park waiting for news of their condition.

Officers from Eastbourne Traffic Division oversaw the recovery of the car, which was organised by expert recovery operator Mack Hobbs.

As the officers attempted the operation, a trickle of friends of the young victims came to view the scene.

One 17-year-old boy, who did not want to be named, said: "We didn't know anything about what had happened until we saw it in the papers this morning. I couldn't believe it when I found out it was someone we knew."

"It is awful. It really sends a shiver up your spine."

Police investigating the incident confirmed the car had not been stolen.

Chief Inspector Steve O'Rourke explained there was no indication the crash was anything but accidental. He said: "It seems five local kids went for a drive on a summer afternoon and had a tragic accident."