A DEVASTATED Bradford on Avon family have heaped praise on the community for their incredible support, as they mourn the son who had a 'heart of gold'.

Harvey Dawson, 20, died on Saturday after an accident involving his Suzuki GSF 600 motorbike and a BMW car on Bradford Road, Melksham, near the Countrywide roundabout. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Since then, his parents Mark and Sue Dawson, his 18-year-old brother Charlie and 16-year-old brother Louis, who live in Bath Road, have been overwhelmed by the support of family, friends, neighbours and people they never even met, who have showered them with flowers, letters, gifts of food and other tributes.

"We are absolutely overwhelmed by the generosity of this community, they have been incredible and we cannot thank them enough," said Mrs Dawson, an administrator at the Wiltshire Rural Music School in Trowbridge.

"He had a heart of gold. He was so lovable, so loyal and so family-orientated. If you were his friend he would do anything for you and he touched so many lives.

"We held a gathering by the crash site on Monday and it was lovely to see so many friends turn up with flowers, letters and tributes. We miss him so much."

Harvey, who went to Christchurch School, then St Laurence School and then Trowbridge College, worked at T & A Motors Ltd on the Treenwood industrial estate in Bradford, where he was flourishing as a mechanic after completing his apprenticeship.

"He was blossoming there, which was brilliant to see. He really enjoyed his work and had a bright future ahead of him - he even picked up his boss' mum on the way to work, that was just the way he was," said self-employed carpenter Mr Dawson.

"For quite a while he had set his sights on joining the Marines and had been very disciplined in his training routine. But try as he might, he could not bulk up like he wanted as he would burn off all the calories he ate. He was a son to be proud of."

Louis added: "He was a great big brother, very loyal, respectful and very good at pulling your leg. I remember after the Elton John concert last year in Longleat he saw a man trying to find his car in the dark and for 20 minutes he went to help him."

Director of T&A Motors, Andrew Phillips, said: “He was a fantastic person to work with over the last few years.

“Harvey was such a charismatic and hardworking team member who improved so much in the last 12 months. I have to say credit to his parents for bringing up such a wonderful person.

“My deepest sympathy goes out to his family, he will be sorely missed.”

Arrangements for Harvey's funeral are still being made. The Wiltshire coroner has been informed but no inquest has yet been opened.

BLOB The crash happened at 2.45pm on Saturday, when Harvey was riding towards Melksham and was involved in a collision with a blue BMW 325 car, which had come out of the entrance to premises next door to the Countrywide store. Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision, in which the driver of the car was not injured. They especially want to talk to the drivers of a white, new model, Ford Fiesta and a silver/grey Skoda Octavia taxi, who drove past the scene but did not stop.

Call 101 with any information.