TRIBUTES have been paid to a 21-year-old man who died in a car crash in Kingsclere earlier this month.

Joshua Perkins, of Ochill Close, Buckskin, was killed in the crash which happened on the A339 near Kingsclere just before 7.16am on May 3, when a Ford Fiesta collided with a Vauxhall Antara.

The driver of the Vauxhall, a 56-year-old man, was injured in the crash and taken to hospital. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

Hundreds of people have paid tribute on social media sites to former Basingstoke College of Technology student Josh, who previously worked for local charity SeeAbility.

His girlfriend Joanne Pritchard posted a heartbreaking message on Facebook, saying: “My soul mate my best friend and the love of my life has been taken away from me. You were here this morning kissing me goodbye and now [I'll] never get to feel your lips again or hear you say I love you or moan about your hair line or make me laugh not just a little, until my belly hurts!

“You picked up my broken pieces and stuck them all together and you have always loved me unbelievable amounts just like I love you and always will baby.

“My life and his family's have been tipped upside down and this is the hardest thing.”

Sarah Kenrick, manager of SeeAbility’s Heather House, said: “We were greatly saddened to hear the tragic news about Josh.

“He was a support worker at Heather House from January until October last year and was a delightful and popular young man. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

An inquest into his death has been opened.