GLYN Gurney's family have paid tribute to the "caring, loving" young man whose life was tragically cut short.

Twenty-year-old Glyn had just started a new job and was looking forward to a holiday with friends when he died in an horrific crash.

He was a passenger in a car driven by a friend which hit the central reservation on the A4042 in Newport on Friday.

Police are carrying out a detailed investigation into the accident, which his family are hoping will answer questions about the role of the barrier in Glyn's death. The driver survived the crash.

"If we started all over again and modelled someone we would end up with Glyn," said his father Nick Gurney. "He was very caring, very loving."

Glyn lived with his dad, stepmum Kate and half-sisters Sammy, aged nine, and four-year-old Sophia, in Elaine Crescent, St Julians, Newport.

His death has shattered his close family. "He was a good, good boy with not a bad word to say about anybody," said Mrs Gurney, a child minder.

"All the kids who came here loved him and he loved the kids. He was fantastic with them all."

Mr Gurney added: "It is a sad loss. He would have made someone a wonderful husband and father."

They have received many cards, letters and visitors who have spoken warmly of Glyn and what he meant to them.

He used to work at Curry's, where he played football with his workmates, but three weeks ago started a new job at Lloyds TSB in Cleppa Park. He was due to go to Corfu later this month with his friends.

"He was a very good footballer and had trials for Leeds," said Mr Gurney.

Glyn also leaves his mother Ruth, stepfather Mark and half-sisters Lucy and Riah.

His funeral is on Wednesday at 11.30am in St Julian's Methodist Church followed by cremation at Gwent Crematorium. A celebration of Glyn's life will follow at Newport High School Old Boys rugby club - he was a former player - and his family would like all his friends to join them.

* Specialists from the Traffic Research Laboratories were called in to help police with their inquiry into what one police officer described as an "unusual collision".

Superintendent Roger Morgan said: "The barrier came away on impact and wrapped around the vehicle."