POLICE have appealed for witnesses to a road crash which claimed the life of a young Sheppey man. Mark LeMasonry died when his white Peugeot 205 1.6Gti smashed into a brick wall.

Mr LeMasonry, who would have been 27 on November 29, was the only person in the car.

The tragedy happened just before 8pm last Thursday on a long bend of Brielle Way, Sheerness, between the gasometers and Sheppey Timber. Police say no other vehicle or anyone else was involved. Mr LeMasonry leaves a four-year-old son Dylan Jordan, who was known as DJ, and his long term partner Karen.

He owned a car valeting company called MKD, which started at Whiteways Garage in Queenborough but he then moved to a unit at Blue Town, Sheerness. His devastated parents Philip and Lynne, live at Foxley Road, Queenborough.

Philip said: "Mark was fun-loving and car mad. He had been driving for nine years. I taught him to drive because I used to be a driving instructor. If you ever needed any help then he was always there.

"We believe he had been coming here that evening from work in order to change clothes before going out again."

Lynne added: "He was a lovable rogue in the best sense of the expression. Our phone has not stopped ringing with people paying tribute to him. I am a lay minister at Minster Abbey and my faith is helping me to get through this. Mark used to be a cadet in the St John Ambulance Sheppey Division and we are are still heavily involved in the brigade."

Mark was a former pupil at Halfway Primary School, then Danley Middle School, before going to Sheppey School (now Minster College).

Flowers from family and friends have been put on a fence near the scene. Any witnesses are asked to contact PC Dave Mahon on (01795) 477055.