FAMILY and friends of Mathew Trattles have paid tribute to the hard-working and devoted dad who lost his life on the A48.

The 24-year-old father of two from Lydney died in the early hours of Tuesday, November 2, when his Subaru Impreza collided with a van in Minsterworth.

Mathew, who lived with his parents Ken and Ann in Queen Street, was one of six brothers and had two three-year-old children of his own – Caitlin and Leon – whom he doted on.

"Work was his life, along with his kids, and I think his job saw more of him than we did," said Ann, who used to run Lydney's Greyhound Pub with her husband.

"He loved his job and when he wasn't there he was with his children.

"If he had any time off he would ask if he could have them for a day.

"They'd do all sorts of things like going to the cinema, bowling or swimming."

In his younger years Mathew attended Severnbanks Primary and Whitecross schools and played rugby for Lydney.

He looked very similar to his brother Simon and picked up the nickname "Matt with the hat", due to the baseball caps he always wore, so people could tell them apart.

His dad Ken said his son, who would have turned 25 tomorrow, always had a smile on his face.

"He travelled all over the country and was a very competent driver," he said.

"Mathew lived life to the full and will be sadly missed by everybody who knew him.

"We would like to thank everyone who sent cards and flowers, as well as the emergency services who attended the scene and our liaison officer."

Since the age of 17 Mathew had worked for RB Flooring – a firm originally established in Lydney – and his job took him all over the country.

Managing director Richard Brudz said Mathew was respected throughout the industry and he would never be able to replace him.

"Mathew was a smart, terrific lad and we are absolutely devastated," he said.

"He was very professional and made us proud – the bosses at our biggest customers like Orange would ask for him by name.

"He was very honest and worked extremely hard – he was a great grafter – and it would take at least two guys to do the work that he did.

"I can't say enough about him but you only have to see the tributes left by his co-workers and our customers to see what an impression he made."