TRIBUTES poured in today for a popular banger driver who died in a horrific accident at a Hampshire scrapyard.

Barry Collins was trapped in a van as it was crushed by giant hydraulic pincers.

The 24-year-old father is understood to have gone back to the vehicle to fetch something part way through the scrapping process.

But the machinery began crushing the vehicle while Barry was still inside.

Emergency services were at the scrapyard, just off the Portsmouth Road in Sholing, Southampton, within minutes of the incident yesterday morning, but Mr Collins was pronounced dead at the scene.

Friends of Mr Collins paid tribute to him on the Daily Echo's website, calling him a talented banger driver who would be greatly missed.

They also offered their deepest sympathy to his family, as well as to his partner and children.

A family friend, who asked not to be named, said: "This has devastated his family and they are all finding it really hard to come to terms with.

"Barry was a much loved and well-known friend to a lot of people and he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him - particularly his brother."

Mr Collins, from Thornhill, was well known in the banger racing circuit having travelled around the country taking part in events with his brother.

A two-minute silence in his memory is due to take place before a banger meeting at the Ringwood Raceway at Matchams tomorrow.

Detectives investigating the incident have confirmed they are not treating the death as suspicious. They have described it as an industrial accident.

Details of their findings are now due to be passed to the Southampton coroner who will continue to investigate exactly how Mr Collins died.

Health and Safety Executive officers are also conducting enquiries at Huntley and Sons scrap metal merchants in Ashley Crescent in a bid to uncover how the accident happened.