BOUQUETS of colourful flowers and 21st birthday balloons have been placed at the roadside where a young Wotton-under-Edge man died on Wednesday morning.

Jake Rebbeck, known to friends and family as Reg, was killed when his silver MG ZR Rover collided with a white Ford Transit Connect van just outside Kingscote, towards Tetbury.

He had been travelling back from Southampton, where he had celebrated his 21st birthday just the day before. 

In a message to their son, Jake’s grieving parents wrote: “Darling, beautiful, funny Jake – we miss you terribly. Always always in our hearts. Love you so much.”

His sister said: “To my beautiful brother Jakey. Forever in my thoughts. Love you forever. Sleep tight bro, miss you.”

One touching tribute said: “It feels very strange writing this. Can’t believe you’re gone. Thank you for being the man you are, and we are really going to miss your cheeky smile and your rosy cheeks being around.”

Another read: “Life’s so cruel. I will picture you with a smile hanging out and laughing with Rory. Our memories won’t die.”

The two vehicles collided on a stretch of the A4135 between Hunters Hall and Calcot at 5.50am on Wednesday morning. Emergency services attended the scene and the road was closed off for a number of hours while traffic was diverted via Newington Barn.

A police spokesman said: A silver MG ZR car was in collision with a white Ford Transit Connect van. The driver of the MG, a 21-year-old man, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”

The driver of the Ford Transit suffered leg and back injuries and was taken to Frenchay Hospital with internal injuries that were said to be life-changing.

The passenger suffered chest and arm injuries and was taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Two empty beer cans and a garden trowel were hidden in the midst of the masses of flowers.