TRIBUTES have been paid to a talented young guitar player who died in a crash on the A339 at Lasham, north of Alton, last week.

Chris Burgess, 27, of Haydock Close, Alton, was driving home from a gig in Basingstoke on May 12 when his Volkswagen Golf was in collision with a Volkswagen Tiguan.

The accident happened around 11.55pm on the stretch of road between the junction with The Avenue at Lasham and The Fir and Feathers pub at Herriard.

Mr Burgess was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family has paid tribute, saying: “Chris will be missed by so many people. He was a great friend, loving son and caring brother, with a remarkably kind nature.

“He had a wicked sense of humour and was incredibly funny. For everyone who came into contact with Chris, there will be a hole left where a joke would have been found.”

The family statement continued: “The music scene has lost an awesome and talented guitar player, adding so much energy and life into the bands he played in. On the night of Chris’s death he was on his way home from a gig.

“It may have been his last, but he will rock on forever.”

Richard Storry, 34, of Evesham Road, Cleve Prior, Worcestershire, has been charged with causing death by driving without due care and attention while unfit through drink.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call the police on 101, quoting Operation Harmonic, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.