Tributes have been paid to a “great character” who died in a car crash on Sunday morning.

A blue Peugeot 307 driven by a man in his 30s, who has been named locally as Shane Willett, left the road and hit the wall at the junction of Hitchin Road and Lannock Hill in Weston at around 3.15am.

No other vehicles were involved.

Herts fire service reported that the car overturned upon impact with the wall and caught fire.

Fire crews worked at the scene to extinguish the fire, but the man could not be saved and died at the scene.

Since then, a large amount of flowers and messages have been left at the scene of the accident for the father-of-four, who grew up in Letchworth.

Baldock Town held a minute’s silence for Shane, who played for the club between 2007 and 2009, ahead of their home game last night.

Club secretary Lee Rusbridge said: “Every time I spoke to him I thought he was a really likeable man.

“He was very well-known in the local area and popular in the dressing room.

“He was a tough tackling player who could play in defence and midfield.

“Holding the minute’s silence is the least we can do really.

“As a club we offer our deepest condolences to his friends and family.”

Stotfold FC chairman Phil Pateman said: “Shane had three spells at Stotfold at academy and reserve level and made a couple of first team appearances, the latest of which was last season.

“Highly popular, he was best known for not being afraid of ‘putting his foot into a tackle’.

“But he was good fun and good company off the pitch.

“A great character and another very sad loss for Stotfold this year.”

Investigating officer Sgt Stephanie Crichton said: “Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time.

“I am appealing for anyone who was in the area and saw the car during the night, and in the period leading up to the collision, to come forward.

“Any information could help us to piece together the circumstances.”

Anyone who can help should call the 101 non-emergency police phoneline.