A FAMILY have paid tribute to a “kind-hearted man” who tragically died after being struck by a car.

Matthew Carty – also known as Matty – was struck by a vehicle which was travelling from Bournmoor towards Fencehouses on the A1052, near Chester-le-Street, in the early hours Sunday.

The 36-year-old, of Lambton, Washington, was taken by ambulance to University Hospital of North Durham, but sadly died from his injuries several hours later.

He leaves behind his mam Mary, sister Sharon, brother Michael and partner Tracy.

For more than five years, Matty worked as a postman in the Houghton-le-Spring and Sunderland areas – a job which he loved.

He also loved trance music and would often go to trance nights and festivals with his friends.

In a statement, his family said: “Matty was kind-hearted, always smiling, always trying to cheer people up and would always put others before himself, especially his mam Mary.

“He would often be singing – a lot of the time he sang silly songs and would often be singing at work.

“He was just amazing. We will miss him so much.”

Two people – a 39-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman – were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

The woman has been released under investigation and the man was taken to hospital while enquiries continue.

The collision happened at 2.15am on Sunday on the A1052 at the junction with Woodstone Village.

A silver Audi A3 made off from the scene and was recovered later that morning.

Officers are urging anyone who may have seen the Audi in the hours leading up to the collision, or after, to come forward.

Anyone with information should contact Durham Police on 101 with any information, quoting incident number 39 of December 23.