Family 'broken' after van death

Kenneth Thiel-Furber died at the scene of the crash

The mother of a man who died when he was hit by a police van has said her family's world has "broken down".

Kenneth Thiel-Furber, 26, was struck by the marked West Mercia Police van on the A41 at Whitchurch, Shropshire.

Susanna Furber, a mother-of-five, paid tribute to her second eldest child, adding: "A massive hole has been left in our lives."

West Mercia Police is holding an internal inquiry into Mr Thiel-Furber's death early on Saturday.

Mr Thiel-Furber, from Whitchurch, died at the scene of the crash. Two police officers in the van, which was travelling towards the Tilstock roundabout, were not injured.

'Perfect gentleman'

In a statement, Ms Furber, said: "All my children mean the world to me but our world has now broken down. I can't believe Kenny's gone.

"Our family has always been close. I only had to say what I wanted and Kenny would do it."

Kenneth's brother Darren said he was devastated.

"He was a perfect gentleman," he said. "A really caring man who enjoyed movies and music, especially heavy rock and Bob Marley."

Police want to hear from passing motorists who spotted two pedestrians, a man and a woman, in the area of the A41 at Whitchurch at about 0230 BST on Saturday.