Family's tribute to Shifnal crash motorcylist

The family of a motorcyclist killed in a crash near Wolverhampton today paid tribute him.

Michael Hutchinson died in a collision with a car on Haughton Road, Shifnal, last Monday. The 41-year-old was on his way back to work after his lunch break.

He was an electrical design engineer at Schneider Electric, at Stafford Park, Telford, and was engaged to partner of 10 years Dawn Bithel.

They lived in Shifnal but he also had a home in Lynton Avenue, Tettenhall. He was studying for a masters degree at Staffordshire University and was a keen drummer and guitarist. He once played in a band called Tricky Dicky.

His family today paid tribute to him in a statement they said: "Michael had lots of friends from work, from university and from the music scene. He was very, very popular and everyone loved him. Michael was a very quiet man with a smashing sense of humour.

"Dawn is absolutely devastated by his death, as we all are.

"We know that there will be a big hole in our family from now on."

His inquest was opened last week in South Shropshire and adjourned until October 7.