Crash driver was leading landlord

Ben Astell: "The original Del Boy"

A Cornwall man who died in a car crash on Tuesday was behind the successful revamp of a St Austell pub.

Ben Astell, 41, had been running the White Hart Hotel in the town with his partner Karen for less than a year.

He died when his Honda Civic collided with a Toyota Spacecruiser on the A30 at Innis Downs near Bodmin at about 1945 GMT.

The Spacecruiser driver, 33 and from Plymouth, is being treated for severe injuries in hospital.

Father-of-two Mr Astell had moved to Cornwall in March last year after running the Blue Anchor in Crowborough, East Sussex.

His mother and father, Edna and Ben, said in a statement: "After Ben had a health scare, they decided to re-think their future and to take life a little slower and have more time for themselves.

Staff, customers and suppliers all adored and respected him Parents' statement

"They made the big decision to move down to Cornwall where they both hoped they would retire together.

"There were both so happy here, and they have touched many lives in the months that they have been here."

Mr Astell followed in his father's footsteps when he joined the licensing trade.

His parents said: "Staff, customers and suppliers all adored and respected him; his strong but fair work ethic, his ability to get the best out of people and his wicked and unique sense of humour made him a pleasure to work with and a pleasure to know.

"Many of the people that he and Karen worked with became good and dear friends. How we will miss him - the original Del Boy.

"Everyone who was lucky enough to have known this lovely man is deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic waste of a life, and will never forget him."