Car enthusiasts are expected to take part in a convoy when a much-loved lorry driver's funeral is held.

Frankie Wright died of his injuries last Thursday lunchtime following a crash on the M2 near the turn-off for Chatham.

The 25-year-old's BMW M6 left the road two days before when it is suspected a tyre blew out.

He was rushed to King's College Hospital in London but had suffered catastrophic brain injuries.

His sister Kim says the family, who live in St Helen's Road, Sheerness, are still coming to terms with the tragedy.

But they have been "blown away" by the outpouring of affection for the former Sheppey Academy pupil.

She said: "So many people have said how much they loved him, I never knew he had so many friends."

Frankie, who worked for Sittingbourne-based Wigglesworth Transport, was "mad about cars and motors".

A qualified mechanic, he was never happier than when driving his prized BMW or tinkering with anything mechanical.

Kim, who is a prison officer and lives near Bedford, added: "He used to go to car meets and chat with loads of people with similar interests.

"They commented that his middle name was 'funny’ because he always made everyone laugh.

"People really liked him and will really miss him. When you look at photos with his friends and their cars, he's always got a smile on his face, that's where he was happy."

Parents Steve and June were contacted by police following the accident and went straight to the hospital and were with Frankie when he died.

Many of his friends, who'd also travelled to London to be close to him, staged an impromptu vigil at the scene of the accident on their way home.

Kim, 32, added: "The M2 was actually closed for a while as they laid flowers and spent time there.

"The police were really understanding, but eventually the Highways Agency asked them to move on."

Realising some of the tributes would be removed from the roadside, his friends went back and collected them and took them to a new site on the Eurolink trading estate in Sittingbourne.

This week several family members had tattoos done to remember Frankie

Kim said: "It is a copy of one he had on his shoulder for a dare with one of his friends.

"It is supposed to be a devil and we aren’t sure if she has a Popeye arm or if it's an apple in front of her but either way it really is a terrible tattoo.

"Everyone who knew Frankie took the mick out of him for it and now there are many more of them on other people."

Frankie's funeral will be held at the Garden of England Crematorium on Friday, March 4 at 3pm, before which a convoy of friends and family will leave the family home at 2.15pm.

Frankie's friends at the scene last week

A quad bike recently bought by Frankie will be placed on a flatbed truck and a hired BMW M6 will take part.

Kim said: "There will hopefully be some lorries from his work and some people from a 'drift club' he met up north are planning to come down. That's really nice to think of – that people who met him just the once would come down to pay their respects."

Anyone who has information about the accident, and has not yet spoken to police, is urged to contact officers.

Witnesses should call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798 538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting reference SM/DS/26/22.