A HOST of tributes have been paid to a Cardigan man who died in a road crash on Monday.

Benjamin Samuel Partis, known as Ben, died after the van he was driving was in collision with a lorry on the A487 Tanygroes to Synod Inn road, at the Pentregat crossroads.

Jayne Ludgate, owner at The Arcade stove centre at Llandysul, said: “It is with great sadness that we have tragically lost our much loved stove fitter Ben.

“Ben was such a loyal person for us as a family and the company and we will miss his presence so much. We are truly heartbroken and still cannot believe it

“Thank you to all the customers who have expressed their condolences. Our thoughts are with his fiancée, family and friends..”

The 38-year-old was a familiar face at the Nags Head pub at Abercych and landlord Dewi Davies said: “He was a big part of everyday life at the Nags Head, with a bubbly personality, a great sense of humour and plenty of stories of the challenges he had faced that day installing and servicing high end log burning stoves for the local community.

“Ben was part of the Nags Head family and was very well liked by our regulars and the team as a whole. It was his favourite pub and restaurant in the area, where he would rarely stray from his favourite pint of larger top after a hard day's work and a Nags burger when it was time to treat Sophie, his fiancée and the children to dinner!

“Ben was ‘a giver not a taker’ and would always offer to help whenever he could, from fixing our ancient log burners at the pub, to lifting beer barrels or moving furniture during the busy times.

“He often repaired stoves for our regulars, for example back in January, during a very cold snap, he drove up to a 92-year-old local's cottage late one evening to get him back up and running and warm again, without any thought of charging.

“An ardent and loyal Liverpool fan, his love of football has been recognised by his boyhood club Bargod Rangers, where his commitment to the team cause could never be questioned.

“Ben you will be sorely missed by all of us at the Nags Head and you will remain in our thoughts and stories for a lifetime.”

Bargod Rangers Football Club has set up a fundraising appeal to help fiancée Sophie and the family. It has so far raised nearly £7,000.

The club said: “Ben was a well thought of member of Bargod Rangers FC for many years, he was a very honest and true to life character and local business man.

“As a club Bargod have always been caring and family orientated and wanted to do something to help the families during this difficult time. Money raised will be used towards funeral costs and financial support to the family. For those that knew and loved Ben please help this worthy cause, thank you.

“RIP Ben you will be missed.”

To donate, go to: gofundme.com/f/in-support-of-ben039s-family