The family and partner of a 43-year-old man who died after his van hit a mattress in the road have paid tribute to their “gentle giant”.

Dean Humberstone, of South Road, Lakenheath, was driving his white Nissan van on the morning of Wednesday, January 29, when it collided with the obstacle and swerved into a tree.

His devastated father Charlie, mother Kathy and partner Angie Quinn put pen to paper to remember him.

They said he was known “as our gentle giant” and “will be missed and loved always”.

“Dean was a wonderful son who was loved by all family and friends. He suffered the loss of his sister when he was just four.

“He met Angie and they fell in love. They were soul-mates for 22 years. She made him very happy.

“He was stepdad to Kevin and Joe [Angie’s children] and granddad to Abby and Dominic. Abby was the apple of his eye and they spent many hours together.”

They said he was a “hardworking family man who always wanted the best for his family”.

“He worked with his dad plastering for many years. His dad retired in December, but Dean then worked on.”

He enjoyed football - he supported Manchester United - playing on the Xbox and heavy metal music.

When he was younger he had a Vespa scooter and would take part in rallies and had also worked in security for concerts.

Speaking yesterday at their home in Breckland Avenue, Lakenheath, his parents said they now had no children left. Their daughter Teresa died after becoming ill when she was only 20 months old. Their son was aged four at the time.

Mr and Mrs Humberstone said they had received so many cards following his death, which shows just how many friends he had and the high esteem in which he was held.

One said: “I remember him to be a lovely person - a real gentle giant”. And another said: “He was held in great affection by all who worked with him.”

Mrs Humberstone, 61, said she would miss “his smile, his wit, his love”.

Mr Humberstone, 65, said he found out about the death of his son, who worked for Bennett Homes based in Nowton, after he had a call to say he had not turned up for work.

He went out to look for him, and saw a police car back into his son’s drive. “I could see on his face what was wrong,” he said.

A funeral date has not yet been set.

•A 55-year-old man from the Thetford area arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving is still on police bail pending further inquiries.