The family of a young dad who died after his car skidded off an icy road have spoken of their heartache.

Ben Cole was killed on his way to work on the Thanet Way near Brenley Corner roundabout between Faversham and Whitstable, last Wednesday morning.

Just three days before the accident, he had been with his family celebrating his 23rd birthday.

Ben, who was driving his BMW to the Whitstable offices of Quote Me Today where he was working as an accountant, had a two-year-old daughter Mia with his girlfriend Sarah Apps, 23.

He lived at the family home in New Road, Minster, with his mum Debbie, dad Kevin, sister Hayley and grandma Pat Llewellyn.

The keen sportsman went to Richmond First School, then to Cheyne Middle School before doing his GCSEs and A levels at Borden Grammar School in Sittingbourne.

He then went to the University of Kent where he studied accounts and finance for three years before graduating from the university with a BA honours in July 2007.

His was one of eight accidents which happened on the road that day.

Ben’s mum Debbie said she found out the devastating news when a policeman came to see her at work in Superdrug in Sheerness.

The 45-year-old said: "The policeman asked if he could have a word and then said what had happened.

"At first they weren’t sure if it was Ben, but then they found his driving licence.

"I kept thinking it wasn’t him – I’d heard about the accident on the radio.

"We believe it was black ice on the road that caused it."

As well as the family he lived with, Ben also leaves behind his nan Ann Cole, nine aunties and uncles and all their children.

Ben’s auntie, Dee Barnes, said: "He was a gentle type of person with not a malicious bone in his body. He was well mannered and polite and everyone used to have such a laugh with him.

"He was just so gentle, and he doted on his little girl, she was the centre of his world."

Ben was an avid sports fan who played squash, badminton and cricket.

He was also an Arsenal fan, though his nickname at work was Rafa – as his colleagues thought he looked like Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.

Dee said: "Everybody loved Ben – Kevin and Debbie are getting letters from people they have never met who were his friends.

"He chose his friends wisely and he had very good friends, which goes to show what type of person he was – he was always up for a laugh.

"He’s left a big void and no one will ever be able to fill it – I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like now."

Debbie said: "I’m glad we had all been together on Sunday for his birthday – we had a really lovely afternoon.

"We are going to do a memories box and photo album for Mia so that she doesn’t forget her dad."

Ben’s funeral will be at the Garden of England Crematorium in Bobbing on Wednesday January 28 at 12pm, followed by a gathering at Gore Court Pavilion, Park Road, Sittingbourne. Flowers or donations to the Kent Air Ambulance.