TRIBUTES have been paid to a “very popular” man who died when he was in a collision with a van in Bromsgrove.

Chris Gower, 24, died in hospital shortly after the collision on the A448 Bromsgrove Highway at about 5.15am on Saturday, November 3.

Mr Gower, who lived in Beoley Road West, Redditch, grew up in Bromsgrove and was a former student of South Bromsgrove High School and NEW College.

Speaking on behalf of the family, his father Dave said: "Chris was a very outgoing, joyful individual who brought a lot of sunshine and joy to everyone's lives.

"He was a cheeky chappie who doted on his five-year-old niece Lilly. He loved rap music, and was a budding rapper.

"He was very popular, and had more than 500 friends on his Facebook page, and had met virtually all of them.”

"Everyone loved Chris and he loved everyone."

The family took the decision to donate Mr Gower’s heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas for organ transplant.

Dad Dave added: "It comforts us to know that his organs will help others. It is something to hang on to."

A tribute page dedicated to Mr Gower (R.i.p chris gower) has been set up on the social networking site Facebook.

Tributes on the page call him a “lovely lad” and describe him as having a “heart of gold”.

Mr Gower, who cleaned drives for a living, leaves his parents, Dave and Maggie, both retired West Mercia police officers, older sister Louise, and girlfriend Abbie Clews, aged 22.