Former Black Country art teacher killed in car crash

A former art teacher from the Black Country was killed in a road smash which left his car embedded underneath a lorry.

Ian Preston, aged 39, was driving his Ford Focus when it collided with a parked lorry on Thursday.

He was head of art at St Francis of Assisi School in Aldridge for six years and was said to be an "inspiration" to students.

He left in January to take up a teaching advisory role in Walsall but maintained close links with the school.

News of his death was broken to the children at the school yesterday, and tributes left at the scene of the crash in Chester Road, Erdington, described him as an inspiration.

Philomena Mullins, the head teacher of the Erdington Road school, said todlay that the pupils, aged between 11 and 18, were "devastated" by the news.

She said: "Yesterday was a very hard day. There are pieces of art inspired by Ian in the school. Every visitor has commented on them.

"We opened up the chapel yesterday and a lot of kids came to me for comfort."