THE FORD Motor Company has paid tribute to one of its apprentices after he was found dead.

Thomas Putt, 20, of Wren Close, Leigh, was found alongside Nikki Willis, 23, in a blue Ford Fiesta outside her house in Fox Crescent, Chelmsford, at 11.15am on Monday.

Mr Putt had been an apprentice for more than two years at Fords Technical Centre, in Dunton.

UPDATED: Families pay tribute to young couple Thomas Putt and Nikki Willis found dead in car in Fox Crescent, Chelmsford - police confirm there were no suspicious circumstances

A spokeswoman for the firm said: “We are shocked and saddened by this news.

“Tom had been an apprentice at Ford for over two years, and on behalf of all his friends and colleagues we would like to offer our deep condolences.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”

The cause of the pair’s deaths is not yet known but police are not treating them as suspicious.