A heartbroken family has urged young drivers to take care on the roads following the harrowing inquest into the needless deaths of two half-brothers.

Eighteen year-old Thomas Anthony and Gareth Nichols, aged 20, were killed when their Corsa shot straight across a junction into the path of an oncoming Mitsubushi Terrano.

They had been following a Cavalier driven by Neyland man Anthony Rees which had gone "airborne" across the Dale Road at the White Hart crossroads, missing the Terrano by inches.

The brothers' car was slammed broadside almost instantly, causing multiple, unsurvivable injuries.

Pembrokeshire Coroner Michael Howells recorded a verdict of misadventure on Thomas, who was driving, and unlawful killing on Gareth.

Both men, from Milford Haven, had traces of cannabis in their system.

In a statement released after the inquest on Thursday, the families said: "Both boys are deeply missed by their family and friends who have been profoundly affected by their loss, There are no words or actions which can bring them back.

"The family would urge other young drivers to drive with care and caution and not be led by others, as it can clearly result in life changing tragedy."

The inquest in Milford Haven heard how an evening spin to Broad Haven by six youngsters in the two cars ended in the double tragedy.

The driver of the Terrano, Ceri Jones, a diving instructor, said Mr Rees' red Cavalier had shot out "airborne" at speed in front of him after emerging unexpectedly from the Tiers Cross road. A split second later his airbags deployed as his car collided with the Corsa.

He escaped by kicking out a side window and when Mr Rees appeared on the scene minutes later, having turned back from the direction of Broad Haven when he noticed the brothers were not following him, he admitted shouting and possibly swearing at him for "driving like a fool."

Mr Rees, he said, replied: "It's not my fault."

He said he slowed and dipped his headlights at the crossroads and did not see any traffic on the main road.

Evidence was also given by three passengers in the Cavalier. Elizabeth Matthews of Cleddau Avenue, Neyland, said the Corsa was close behind when they approached the crossroads, her boyfriend David Connolly, denied telling the boys' mother Mr Rees had been weaving from side to side.

Kenneth Richards, said he had never been frightened by Rees' driving and did not think they were travelling that fast.

The vehicles had no defects that may have contributed to the accident and post mortems revealed no traces of alcohol.

But Thomas was an inexperienced driver, having passed his test at the third attempt only six months earlier, Mr Howells was told before recording his verdicts.

Inspector Gareth Thomas of Pembrokeshire Road Policing Unit, said: "There is concern over the number of roads deaths involving the under 25 year age group and we have a number of initiatives aimed at reducing the number killed on the roads in Pembrokeshire.

"This includes attending every secondary school in the county delivering hard hitting presentations and targeting anti social and dangerous drivers.

"Young people need to think about how dangerous driving a vehicle can be and ensure they drive sensibly to prevent their family suffering the tragedy of losing them."

Coroner - cannabis is not harmless.

The fact that traces of cannabis were found in the bodies of both victims - although not necessarily in sufficient concentration to have contributed to the accident - led Pembrokeshire Coroner Michael Howells to warn against the dangers of regarding the drug as harmless.

"Once again cannabis has played a part in an accident", he said.

"I have presided over many instances like this and there is a belief that cannabis is a harmless drug, but it isn't harmless in the effects it has on driving cars or taking responsible actions.

"These two young men both appear to have taken cannabis in the course of the day when working on a building site, which is a dangerous place. Cannabis is dangerous both in its use and overuse and if this teaches people that it is not safe to use cannabis in any circumstances then at least these two boys would not have died in vain.

The boys' mother, Mrs Nicola Dolling, told the Coroner that they did not smoke on the building site and never smoked in front of a younger brother, and two other members of the family confirmed this.

But the Coroner said: "All I can go on is the scientific evidence that they had both taken cannabis within a measurable period of the accident."