Grieving relatives have paid tribute to a man who died following a horrific road collision with a petrol tanker.
Christopher Birch, 44, of North Road, Wescliff, died at the scene on the A128 in Bulphan on Thursday.
Mr Birch, a self-employed upholsterer, was described by relatives as "a one-man party who thrived on fun and enjoyment and always had a joke to tell, making everyone around him feel good".
Mr Birch, who lived with his partner, 19-year old son Steven and 17-year old daughter Louise who were from a previous relationship, was one of two men in a Renault van which collided with the petrol tanker.
He enjoyed playing the guitar and singing in a local band and had been a motorcycle fan from the age of 16.
A man in his twenties was airlifted to Basildon Hospital following the accident at the Orsett Cock roundabout but he was not believed to have life-threatening injuries. The tanker driver suffered slight cuts.
Published Monday, April 7 , 2003
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