TRIBUTES have been paid to Jason Rawlings, the son of a former Marlborough publican, who died in a car crash on Friday.

Mr Rawlings, who was 22, is thought to have been a passenger in a Ford Mondeo that left the A365 between Bowerhill and Redstocks, Melksham, and collided with a telegraph pole and bus stop before coming to rest on its side in a garden shortly after 1am.

He was certified dead at the scene.

Mr Rawlings, a former pupil of St Peter's School, Marlborough, was the son of Kim Heath, who ran the Roebuck pub in London Road with her second husband Colin for about two years.

When he was 11 he moved to live with his father Stan at Lackham and went to school in Chippenham.

For the last six years Mr Rawlings, a labourer, lived in Devizes with his mother, stepfather and two younger brothers, Matthew, 20, and Daniel, 17.

Mr and Mrs Heath said the whole family was devastated by the tragedy.

Mrs Heath, 43, said: "Jason loved his family. He and his brothers were a unit. He was so proud to be part of his brothers.

"Jason was a very gentle person and he was the sunshine in my heart.

"Jason was very close to his father and he lived with each of us for periods of time. He was close to his stepmother, Louise, and stepsister Hollie.

"He worked as a labourer and enjoyed being outside. Outside of work he enjoyed being with his friends and going out for a night out."

Mr Heath, 39, said: "We are distraught and empty and we feel very hollow without Jason. We feel we have lost a part of us. Jason was quite a straightforward lad, a no frills sort of chap."

Mr Rawlings' best friend Michael Keeling, 22, a builder of Seend, said: "Jason was a kind hearted person and wouldn't harm anyone. He was a popular lad."

A 21-year-old man from Devizes was arrested at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, on Friday on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.