THE FAMILY of an Abertillery man who died in a car crash on Sunday morning have paid tribute to a 'loving and devoted' father and fiancé.

The inquest into the death of Jonathan Mervyn Graham Powell, 23, from Abertillery, was opened and adjourned today.

A statement released by his family yesterday said: "Jonathan, nicknamed Duffy, was a devoted and loving father, fiancé, son, grandson, and brother who will be sadly missed by everyone, but always in our hearts.

"Jonathan idolised his daughters Ruby-Mai and Charlie-Marie, and his fiancée Megan.

"He was an outgoing, happy-go-lucky guy who loved his family, job and everything about his life. He lived every day to the full. He lived for today not tomorrow and his life changed the day he had the girls."

Police and ambulance services were called to the crash at 12.51am on Sunday February 9. The car, a Rover MG Saloon Car, had left the carriageway at Beaufort Rise, Ebbw Vale, and gone down the embankment at the side of the road.

When officers arrived the car was on its roof.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. He was later identified by a family member as Mr Powell.

A post-mortem examination carried out at the Rpoyal Gwent Hospital found the cause of death was multiple injuries.

Gwent Coroner David Bowen adjourned the inquest until May 1 and released Mr Powell’s body to his family for funeral purposes.