THE son of a Middlesbrough man who died in a car collision has described his father as as his "role model and hero" and "the kindest, most loving man, I have ever met."

Andrew Corfield, 39, driving a Ford Fiesta, which was in a crash with a car on Cass House Road, Hemlington in Middlesbrough last night.

A 17-year-old passenger, named locally as Mr Corfield's daughter, Alice, is in a critical condition at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

An 18-year-old local man has been arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, causing death by dangerous driving and failing to report the collision and is in police custody.

Mr Corfield, a crane driver on the docks, was well known as the creator of Boro Pat, a comedic adult spoof of children's TV programme, Postman Pat.

Mr Corfield and his wife Lisa lost their third child, Jack to cot death in 1995 aged just five weeks old. He went on to raise money for charity in the name of his late son by running a marathon and also leaves a daughter, Amy.

His son, Owen Corfield, posted a tribute to his father online. He said: “I still can’t get my head round it, I’ve lost my dad, my role model my hero. There’s no words to describe how I’m feeling right now and why this happened to the kindest most loving man I have ever met in my life.

“You were only just saying to me how proud you were of me getting my new job. I will always love you, you will never be forgotten. Hope you’re having a Jack Daniel’s up there with Jack and the rest of the family. Lots of love your oldest son Owen.”

One of Mr Corfield's best friends, Paul Spriggs, who was comforting Mr Corfield's brother, told The Northern Echo he was: "one of the funniest, loveliest guys you ever met, a good friend, a working family man. Everyone is just praying with all our hearts that Alice will pull through."

At least 50 floral tributes were left at the scene of the collision. Many left notes using Mr Corfield's nickname of 'Skin.' One read: "A part of Hemo’s soul died here. What a waste of life." Another said: "Absolutely lost, Captain."

Skid marks from the Fiesta were on grass about 30 yards away from the point of collision at a junction with Cass House Road and Fordyce Road.

An 18-year-old has been arrested and bailed on suspicion of dangerous driving in connection with the incident.