THE devastated brother of a Newport man killed in an horrific motorway crash paid a loving tribute to "his hero" last night.

Tom Fisher, 60, of Vaughan Williams Drive, died on Tuesday evening when the Ford Ka he was travelling in was in collision with two other cars, a van and a lorry on the M4 near Bristol.

The former Newport High School pupil, who worked for the National Statistics Office in Newport, was travelling with colleague Beverley Toombs, 20, to a training course when the accident happened.

She was also killed, as was a man in one of the other vehicles.

His brother Paul, 54 of Corporation Road, Newport, said the family was shocked and devastated by his death.

His wife of four years, Jen, 54, is "inconsolable", and is being comforted by relatives at their Alway home.

"I couldn't ask for a better brother," said Paul, a clerical officer at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

"I used to look up to Tom as a child - you could almost call it hero worship. My big brother was my hero.

"Since I moved back to Newport a couple of years ago we would meet up every Saturday morning for a cooked breakfast and a walk - I'm going to miss him so much."

Paul last spoke to his brother on Monday, when Tom visited him to talk about his forthcoming move.

"He was going to help me move house next week, but now I've got to do it all on my own," said Paul. "We were chatting and laughing as usual, I'm so glad he was happy the last time I saw him."

Born in Somerton and raised in Pill, Tom Fisher was the eldest of four brothers and two sisters.

On leaving school he worked for Williams the Draper, then South Wales Builders before following his father as a docker in Newport Docks. For the past ten years he worked in the National Statistics Office on Cardiff Road, Newport.

Paul described his brother as a "very kind and sentimental man" - a keen gardener who loved fixing things. He was a devoted step-father to his wife's two children.

"He was very much in love with Jen, and she loved him deeply," said Paul. "They were very happy together - he had a lot going on and a lot to live for."

Funeral details are not yet finalised.