THE family of a Kirby Cross man who died following a horrific road smash in Great Bromley paid tribute to him this afternoon.

The emergency services were called to the A120 at around 1.30am on August 7 to reports of a collision involving a silver Ford C-MAX and a black Skoda Octavia.

A woman aged in her 70s and a man aged in his 20s were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The woman is no longer critical and the man has been discharged from hospital.

A 72-year-old man died at the scene. He has been identified as Ronald Anthony Scannell from Kirby Cross.

In a statement, his family said: "Ronald, who was known to his family and friends as Ronnie, was born in Stepney where he lived and worked as an asphalt flat roofer for over 30 years.

"He then moved to Dagenham where he lived with his wife Linda and had two children. He later moved to Kirby Cross where he retired seven years ago.

"He loved classic cars and visited shows. He spent many happy hours gardening and tending to his koi fish pond.

"Ronnie was a very quiet, dedicated and generous family man who would do anything for anyone.

"His nephews and nieces saw him as a hero and he will be lovingly remembered and desperately missed by his extended family and friends.”