THE family of a roofer who died after the forklift truck he was driving toppled over have described him as “the best son ever”.

Mark Williams, 41, died instantly in the accident at the Parkway construction site in Newbury last Wednesday.

His mother Shenda Williams-Long and stepfather Tom Long said the father-of-two from Nuneham Courtenay lived for his family and friends.

Mr Long, 66, said: “Mark was such a lovely young boy and he grew up into a wonderful man that I was proud of and loved.

“He was loved by his family and friends and we loved him absolutely to bits.”

The accident is being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive, but Mrs Williams-Long said it appeared her son had tried to jump from the cab when the forklift started to topple over.

Mr Williams was born in Churchill, West Oxfordshire, and moved to Nuneham Courtenay when he was three-and-a-half.

He went to Marsh Baldon Primary School, then the now-closed Abbey School in Berinsfield before going to work as a roofer.

He bought a house just a few doors away from his childhood home when he was 21, and would pop round with daughters Tilly, four, and Ellie, nine, to see his parents.

His partner Sam Collins, 35, described him as “her rock”.

He was also close to his sister, Sharon Williams, 45, who lives in Garsington.

A keen football fan, Mr Williams used to go to watch England at Wembley with school friends, who knew him as “Willy”. He played for local teams including Berinsfield and Marsh Baldon, until a broken leg ended his playing days.

He also loved military vehicles and would go to rallies with his stepfather. The pair went to Normandy several times, to commemorate the D-Day landings.

Mr Williams last year helped organise Nuneham Courtenay’s 250th birthday celebrations.

Mrs Williams-Long, 63, said: “I know every mum says this, but, honest to God, he was the best son ever.

“He was just the most fantastic person. When he went away, he would phone me every single day.”

Mr Long added: “He would like to be remembered through his children and that is how we will remember him, and we will look after them as best we can.”

A funeral service will be held at Toot Baldon Church on August 2, at 2pm, before a burial in Nuneham Courtenay churchyard.

Donations can be made in his memory to Help for Heroes.