Tributes have been pouring in for family man Malcolm Richards, who died in a motorbike crash, writes Karen Rosine.

Neighbours collected money for flowers for his grieving family after Mr Richards, 51, of Napier Road, east Oxford, suffered fatal injuries on Saturday.

Mr Richards's bike, thought to be a 900cc Honda Fire- blade, collided with a car on the A4260 between Kidlington roundabout and Loop Farm roundabout.

The mechanic, who ran his own business from home, was certified dead at the scene. The car driver, believed to be a pregnant woman, was not seriously hurt. Divorced Mr Richards had five children, Christopher, Lorraine and Paul - who are all grown up and live away from home - and young twins Michelle and Paula, who lived at home with him.

Yesterday the close-knit community in Napier Road paid tributes to him.

Florist Pat Johnson, 58, said Mr Richards, known by the nicknames Charlie or Mac, was well known and liked by everyone in the street.

She said her children had grown up with his and played together as youngsters. Mrs Johnson said: "He was a very nice person. We were quite friendly. He would come round to do my car. Everyone knew him. He had lots of mates."

She added he had bought the motorbike only recently.

Pat Haines, 53, said her children also grew up with Mr Richards's.

She said: "He was friendly, bubbly, very outgoing and a brilliant father to the little girls."

Story date: Friday 07 May

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