GWENT athlete Jamie Baulch paid tribute to the friend for whom he was due to be best man yesterday - after dedicating his bronze medal to the car-crash victim.

Baulch won bronze in the 400m of the World Indoor Championships held in Birmingham, and said he was running for best friend Delton Horner, from Caerleon, pictured, who died last week in a horrific car crash.

He told reporters after the race: "I had a personal friend who died in a car crash on Tuesday, and I was thinking about going home.

"I was really running for him and I am pleased that I got a medal."

Risca-born Mr Baulch also won a second bronze in the 4 x 400m relay.

Last night, Mr Horner's devastated parents paid tribute to their "wonderful and loving son". Keen sportsman Mr Horner, who had been living in Birmingham, died instantly when the car he was driving left a slip road off the M5 near Kidderminster and hit a concrete pillar.

He was to have married his fiance, Mandy Roan, from Cardiff, in November. Jamie Baulch was to have been his best man.

On the day of the crash Mr Horner had been on his way to see one of his clients from the personal fitness company he ran.

His mother, Dawn, from Trinity View, Caerleon, told the Argus: "He was a very loving boy and there was a very close bond between us.

"Delton was always hugging me, picking me up and swinging me around - he was always affectionate. He loved life and was always laughing.

"It was a huge privilege to have been his mother."

His father, Ed, said: "He was a wonderful son and we spent a lot of time together.

"Delton was looking forward so much to marrying Mandy and having a family.

"We are all devastated and can't believe it's happened."

His sister, Cath, said: "He and Mandy were very much in love after they met in La Manga, in Spain, on a tennis holiday.

"Delton also loved his nieces, Sophie and Holly, and nephews, Jack and Matthew."