Tributes to man killed in crash

Tributes have been paid to a Shropshire man who died when the car he was travelling in ploughed into a tree.Stuart Varden, 35, from Market Drayton, died when the car he was a passenger in left the road in Wolverhampton and crashed into the tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends described him as "a lovely man". Roy Blase, manager of Tiddlers pub, in Cheshire Street, Market Drayton, said Mr Varden and his partner Adrian Pitt started drinking in the pub about 18 months ago, after moving to Market Drayton.

Mr Blase said: "He was a nice lad and he sang on the karaoke all the time.

"He mixed really well with the locals and he used to go out in town with the lads and the girls.

"He and Adrian have been coming here for at least 18 months. He used to come here and have a drink and he just fitted in really well with my locals and they all became good friends."

Mr Blase said he believed Mr Varden worked with young people in the West Midlands area.

Sharon Blase, pub manageress, said Mr Varden had just bought a new dog, his and Adrian's first pet together.

"He was just a lovely man," she said. "He was really, really popular and just a cracking lad."

Sean Corcoran, landlord of The Crown pub in Stafford Street, Market Drayton, also paid tribute to Mr Varden.

"He used to drink in here sometimes and he was just a nice lad and well-liked around the town," he said.

"There were always loads of them, and they'd go out together and have a good time."

Police have appealed for witnesses to the collision.

The car driver, Mr Varden's 17-year-old nephew, was unharmed. However, he was later arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, before being released on police bail.

A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Officers in Wednesfield came across the collision between a car and a lamp-post at 4.50pm on Thursday."

Witnesses are asked to contact Low Hill police station on 08451 135000.