Tributes to man who died on road

Friends of a taxi passenger who was killed as he stepped out of a cab near Stourbridge have paid tribute to him, saying he was the "life and soul of the party".

Dozens of floral tributes, cards, candles and photographs have been laid at the scene of the accident in memory of the 22-year-old victim, named locally as Tom Pople.

He was knocked down by a car driven by a 20-year-old woman moments after being dropped off in Belbroughton Road, Clent at 12.05 yesterday morning. The female driver of the car, a green Citroen, is believed to have known the victim.

Mr Pople suffered multiple injuries and was rushed to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley where he was pronounced dead.

Close friend Simon Rutter, aged 24, said Tom, who worked as a chef at The Vine in Clent, was one of his best friends. He said: "He was just the life and soul of the party."