A COMMUNITY is in mourning for a brilliant young musician who died in a road accident at the weekend.

Tributes have been paid to Nicholas Michael Bennett, 28, from Darlington, who died when his car collided with a tree off the A167, near Coatham Mundeville, in County Durham, half-a-mile from junction 58 on the A1(M).

The father-of-one was an award-winning musician who was musical director for both All Saints' and Salutation Church, in Darlington, and the Teesside Apollo Male Voice Choir.

Last night, the Reverend John Dobson said the church congregation had been shocked by Mr Bennett's death.

He said: "He was very talented. He was full of energy, full of life. He was always wanting to move things on, which was ideal for what we were looking for here.

"He touched a lot of lives here and we are very saddened and shocked."

Joe Thompson, secretary of the Apollo Choir, said: "He was a lovely man. What you saw was completely what you got.

"What can you say about someone who made such an impression on so many lives in such a short space of time?

"He was just totally brilliant."

Born and brought up in Lancashire, Mr Bennett joined his local church choir aged six and studied piano and the church organ from the age of 11. He became organist at the same church when he was 16, before he moved to Reading to study music at university. He continued his organ studies at St George's Chapel, Windsor, before he took his first musical director's post. He subsequently took three other posts and was musical director for the area's male voice choir.

A talented singer and actor, Mr Bennett won a National Operatic and Dramatic Association award for his portrayal as the lead in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. He performed at Darlington Civic Theatre in Darlington Operatic Society's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, and had also musically directed productions.

Mr Bennett moved to Darlington with his wife, Heather, and son, Jamie, now 18 months old, about a year ago when he became musical director of the Apollo Choir.

The accident happened at 2.25am on Saturday.

Mr Bennett was driving a green Ford Escort on a straight, downhill section of the A167, when the car left the road and hit a tree on the verge.

He was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital, but had suffered fatal injuries.

It is not known why the car left the road. At the time of the accident, the road surface was wet and greasy, with surface water.

Witnesses are asked to call police on 0845-60-60-365.

* Pay your tribute to Mr Bennett online from noon today at www.thenorthernecho.co.uk

* A man has died after an accident at a troublespot. The incident happened at about 6.10pm on Friday, on the A68, near the junction with Burtree Lane, near Darlington.

The man, believed to be a 54-year-old from Humberside, was attempting to cross the road when he was involved in an accident with a car travelling west. The driver was travelling home to Newton Aycliffe with his son. Both suffered minor injuries.

Anyone with information is asked to call 0845-60-60-365.

* You can leave tributes below