The family of a Sheerness man killed in a three-car collision on the M2 have paid tribute to a “kind-hearted, gentle and caring person”.

Andrew Gregory, 52, died at the scene on the coastbound carriageway close to the Farthing Corner services near Gillingham, last Friday.

The crash, at around 3.30am, involved three cars – a VW Golf, a VW Bora and a Peugeot 405.

Emergency services closed the motorway between Gillingham and Sittingbourne to respond to the accident, leading to mass disruption for commuters.

Mr Gregory, of Harris Road, Sheerness, was single and worked as a dustman for Islington Council in London.

His family have paid tribute to him by saying: “Andy was a kind-hearted, gentle and caring man who always had a smile on his face, a witty comment to greet you with and would be the first to offer help to anyone who needed it.

“He will be sadly missed by his family, friends and work colleagues. Andy leaves a mother and sister who live in London.”

Kent police family liaison officer Det Con Andy Jennings said: “He was driving back from work with his colleague Cliff Morrice who walked away from the crash with minor injuries.

“Cliff lives in Sheerness and he introduced Andy to the Island six years ago when he came to visit at weekends. Andy was born in Scotland and lived there until 2002. He had a close community of friends on the Island.”

Andy’s next door neighbour Vivienne Judge, who had known him for a year, added: “I only saw him on the other morning. He was a very gentle man and you couldn’t have wished for a nicer neighbour. This has totally shocked me.”