THE family of a 21-year-old man killed in a head-on collision with a lorry have described him as ‘lovely person’.

Tributes have been paid to Lewis Dickson, who died when his car collided with the wagon on the A167 near Chilton, County Durham.

Mr Dickson, from Seaham, was driving his Rover 25 car when the accident happened at around 10am on Wednesday, December 4.

In a statement, his family said: “Lewis was the second oldest in a family of eight children and his loss, in such a tragic way, has left the whole family absolutely devastated.

“Lewis was simply a lovely person who was a popular and a kind friend to many.

“His parents, Sharon and Anthony, would ask that they are all allowed the privacy to come to terms with this loss.”

Mr Dickson had been overtaking a car on the A167 near Chilton, County Durham, when the crash happened.

From Adolphus Street West, he was killed as he overtook a brown coloured Vauxhall Meriva car 400 metres north of the Chilton roundabout.

The Rover hit the articulated lorry head-on, spinning round and hitting the side of the Meriva.

The 61-year-old driver of the Meriva, from Brandon, County Durham, was unhurt in the accident, while the lorry driver, a 56-year-old man from Consett, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for treatment to minor injuries.

Any witnesses to the crash are asked to contact Durham Police, by dialing 101.