Family and friends of a man killed in a helicopter crash last week have paid heartfelt tributes to ‘a fantastic dad and a brilliant pilot’.

Brian Bridgman, 58, a Loughton resident for almost 30 years, was killed as the aircraft he was flying back home ditched into the sea off the coast of Flamborough in Yorkshire, last Tuesday.

His passenger and close friend John Kent, 50, from Romford, was also killed.

The father-of-two was born and raised in Loughton, where he ran LWC Engineering, an architectural and structural steel fabrication company until 2010, when he stepped back to fly full time.

His late father, Gordon Bridgman, also ran a construction business from Forest Road, until his death in 1985.

Brian’s daughter Katie Bridgman, 31, said: “He lived to fly and was doing what he loved.

“He is our hero. He was humble, generous, caring and just always had that smile.

“Dad was a true Loughton boy at heart, we worshipped him.”

For the full story, see this week's Epping Forest Guardian, published on Thursday.