Tributes have been paid to a well-known folk singer who was killed in a crash with a lorry.

Kerry Hearn, 53, from Hythe, who died in the smash on the A20 Ashford Road, Newingreen, last week, worked for Nusteel Structures in Lympne, which supplies steel bridges and gantries to the construction industry and was travelling to work at the time of the accident.

In a statement, his family said: "Kerry was an integral part of a large, loving and close-knit family.

"He was very popular as a singer with Amanda and friend, Stuart, who were known as a group by the name of ‘Quidnunc’.

"They performed throughout Kent and also Shanty Festivals at Lancaster and Harwich, and recently in France and Germany.

"Kerry was so well loved among the whole Shanty singing community and had too many friends to mention. He will be missed by all of them."

Former leader of the Deal Hoodeners folk group, Steve Grayland, said: “He leaves a great hole in everybody’s lives in the folk scene. Everybody involved in folk locally would have known Kerry and his wife Mandy.”

Mr Grayland added: “He was a really nice guy and one of life’s good guys.”

The inquest into his death has been opened and adjourned at Folkestone Magistrates Court.

Police had been called to the accident at about 6.10am on Tuesday last week after the crash happened on the A20 opposite Folkestone Racecourse.

They arrested the 42-year-old driver of a foreign-registered lorry on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

He was bailed until next April 9, 2015 as the police investigation continues.

Kent Police’s serious collision investigation unit has appealed for witnesses.

Officers in particular asked to hear from drivers of two large and two smaller goods vehicles that were travelling along the A20 from Ashford towards Cheriton around the time of the crash.

Anyone with information should call the serious collision investigation unit on 01622 798538.