David Gaylor died in hospital hours after yesterday's 4am crash in London Road, Bedford.

One neighbour described how she heard what sounded like gunfire and then felt the whole building shake. The impact left a gaping hole in one resident's bedroom wall.

Others described Mr Gaylor, 25, as decent young man while a card left at the scene read: "Can't believe you have gone. Love you so much, you will always be with us." His family were tonight too upset to comment. Six people have been arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent – three of whom received treatment following the crash.

Police refused to say whether they believed the cars were being raced at the time of the crash.

A next-door neighbour of Mr Gaylor's in Moulton Avenue, who did not want to be named, said they had been neighbours for about 18 years and although she had not known him well, he was always polite and seemed a nice man.

She said: "We're just numb at the moment, we couldn't believe it when we heard what had happened.

"I didn't know him really well, I know his mum Mary better, but he would always say 'hi' when we saw him.

"I haven't seen Mary yet, but as I have a son myself I know it's every mother's worst nightmare."

Sylvia Ruffhead, 78, who lives in a first floor flat two blocks down from the scene, said: "I lay in bed and I heard this noise, I thought it was somebody shooting a gun. I heard a 'whoosh' and a banging.

"As I went to get out of bed and put my foot down on the carpet I felt the whole building vibrating from where it had hit. There was a lad immediately under the front window, he was so distressed he was calling and shouting.

"There was another lad lying on the pavement, he wasn't making a sound.

"I saw a lad run past and stick his hand in the car then run off, but I really don't know what he was doing.

"About 10 minutes later the ambulances came and took them away."

Mr Gaylor is thought to have been walking home from a night out when the crash happened. He lived a few miles away from the crash scene.

Of the three arrested people injured, two were being treated for serious injuries and another for minor injuries.

The other three were being held at Greyfriars Police Station.

The crash involved a Ford S Max and a Hyundai Coupe, both believed to have been stolen overnight from the Bedford area.

A Bedfordshire Police spokesman said last night it could be some time before any headway was made in the investigation as it involved potential criminal proceedings as well as a road traffic collision.

Crash investigators were forced to examine the crumpled Ford S Max at the scene, as it was too damaged to be removed then analysed later.

The Hyundai Coupe was taken away by a recovery lorry for forensic examinations.

The block of flats, owned by the Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association, was described as "uninhabitable" following the crash and residents have been rehoused or taken in by relatives.

As well as the hole left in the wall of one resident's bedroom, the crash inflicted damage on a neighbouring flat and stairwell. No residents were injured.

Flowers laid at the scene paid tribute to Mr Gaylor.

One card said: "David, God Bless Mate, we love you so much".