THE parents of a man who died after a road race today vowed to stand by his best friend after he was jailed for dangerous driving.

Michael and Ellen Heywood protested over the eight month sentence given to Andrew McManus after a judge said he had been playing 'boy racers' with lifelong friend Neil Heywood.

A court heard McManus, 23, was driving behind Neil in Whalley Old Road and both were overtaking cars. He was jailed for eight months for the offence after Preston Crown Court accepted his not guilty plea to causing death by dangerous driving.

Neil, also 23, of Whalley, lost control of his car as he travelled from Blackburn to Clitheroe and died after being thrown from his vehicle on April 6 last year. He was not wearing a seat belt.

Mr and Mrs Heywood said they would keep in touch with McManus, of Whalley Old Road, Billington, while he was behind bars to offer their support.

Mr Heywood said: "We are devastated by the sentence. To lose our son is bad enough, but to lose his best friend to a jail sentence makes it worse.

"He has a job and bitterly regrets what happened. What possible use is it to society if he goes to prison? A community service order would have been more appropriate. We have known Andrew for most of his

life. He was a lifelong friend of our son and, while we are not condoning what happened, we think his prison sentence is diabolical."

Mrs Heywood added: "We can't bear to think of him lying in a prison cell somewhere. What is the point in that? He had a job and was contributing to society.

"We will be keeping in touch with him to offer our support."

The Heywoods described McManus as "a good lad" and said had he been any different, they would not have spoken at court on his behalf.

Mr Heywood added: "Andrew is a good lad who has never been in trouble before. I've seen people walk free for far worse. Had he been a bad lad we wouldn't have been in court to speak on his behalf."

Judge Brian Duckworth told McManus the friends had been "playing boy racers" and he was lucky not to be facing a more serious charge.

He was also banned from driving for five years.

Mr Bob Elias, prosecuting, said the accident had occurred after the racing had finished.

He said both had been racing each other through country roads with disregard to other road users.

"They had overtaken when it was not safe to do so.

Judge Duckworth said: "Sadly your friend died.

"Maybe to an extent he was responsible for his own death but I think you are lucky not to be facing that more serious charge."

PS Stuart Isherwood of the road safety unit based in Accrington said after the case: "We are pleased that the judge has seen the severity of the extremely dangerous driving that took place that day and ultimately led to a young lad being killed.

"Incidents like this are obviously a worry to the police.

"This death sends out the message that, although young lads may think they are infallible and can drive at breakneck speed, they are not."