TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who was killed when the car he was travelling in hit a lamppost.

Natalie Storey said her brother, 27-year-old Shaun, was a "clumsy, funny, jack the lad".

He died on Saturday when the Peugeot 206 he was in crashed on the A692 in the Moorside area of Consett, County Durham, shortly before 5.40am.

Miss Storey said: “Shaun had been caring for his mother, who tragically died in February after a long illness and that turned his life upside down.

“But recently, he had started to sort his life out, which makes losing him now even harder.

“He had made plans to train and find employment, and he was starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Mr Storey lived in Connolly Terrace in Blackhall Mill, near Chopwell, and was the front seat passenger in the car.

He was confirmed dead at the scene and a 25-year-old man from the Blaydon area was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and for failure to provide a sample.

Miss Storey added: “Anybody who knew Shaun knew he was always up for a party, especially if it was to celebrate a victory for his beloved Newcastle United.

“We will celebrate the happy memories we have of my clumsy, funny, ‘jack the lad’ brother whose sense of humour and ridiculous laugh we will never forget.

“His life was taken far too soon but he will never leave our hearts and will never be far from our thoughts. Our only hope is that he has found peace.

“The love we have for him will never fade and we will strive to keep his memory alive for his niece Lola, stepbrother Alfie and step sister Katie.”