A CONVOY of cars will follow the hearse of tragic Costi Voulgaris as it passes through the town, his friends have vowed.

A date has not yet been set for the funeral of the 19-year-old, who died in a crash in Marlborough Road, but his friends from Swindon Car Crew are planning to follow the funeral cortege on the day.

Stacie Rose, a member of Swindon Car Crew, who knew Costi for about three years, described him as a popular member of the group.

“He was a great mate and he put lots of smiles on everyone’s faces. He may be gone but he will never ever be forgotten,” said the 23-year-old, of Liden.

“We used to go down to McDonalds and see him working in the drive through. There are great memories of Costi, he was brilliant.”

About 60 people turned out in Greenbridge on Friday night to pay their respects and release Chinese lanterns into the sky in his memory.

A memorial event was also held on Thursday.

“When the funeral happens we will follow the hearse with our lights on, there will be quite a crowd following the car. Judging by the turn out on Friday I can imagine there will be about 60 of us,” said Stacie.

“We have done it before for our friend Alex Szymanski when he died in a car accident nearly three years ago.

“The Swindon Car Crew are all really close. We don’t talk every day but driving our cars is how we pay our respects.”

Costi died at the scene at about 1am on Thursday after the Vauxhall Corsa he was a passenger in crashed into a tree. A Facebook page set up in his memory, called Memorial drink in honour of our dear friend Costi, which was set up for Friday night’s event, has been flooded with tributes.

His sister Daisy Papadopoulos wrote on the page: “Sat here on your bed wishing I’d find you asleep I just hope you know I wouldn’t think twice about giving any think to get you back!

“I just can’t believe you won’t be here to see me start driving and get my first car so you could rag it round the block like you would of wanted to, you was like a best friend and brother all in one I knew I could tell you any think.

“And if ever I was in trouble you’d be the first one there.”

Police are still asking witnesses to the collision who have not already come forward, or anyone who may have seen the vehicle involved before the collision, to contact PC Scott Hill of the Serious Collision Investigation Team on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously if required, on 0800 555 111.