THE wife of a Waltham Abbey father-of-five killed in a motorcycle accident in Great Dunmow has paid tribute to him as someone "who loved his family with a passion".

Stephen King, 53, of Edwards Court, Waltham Abbey, was riding a Suzuki GSX motorcycle, with motorcycle instructor Lisa Jackson riding pillion, when the machine collided with a Citroen Saxo car on the B184 on Saturday, April 15.

Mrs Jackson, 40, from Hornchurch, died at the scene. Mr King was airlifted to Princess Alexandra Hospital, Harlow, where he died a short time later.

His wife Sally, to whom he had been married 32 years, said: "Stephen loved his family with a passion and was a family man. His main interest was his motorbike which was his release, but also enjoyed scuba-diving and holidaying. He loved watching motorsport on television, the Discovery Channel and any programme with a construction or mechanical interest.

"He had lived in the area 28 years and worked as a manager of a team that resprayed and refurbished railway trains which he was extremely good at and enjoyed very much.

"We all miss Stephen greatly."

Mr King also leaves twin daughters, Emma and Katie, 28, Louise, 26, Stephen, 24, and Sarah, 21. He had two grandchildren - six-year-old Danny and two-and-a-half year-old Lily. .

The car driver, a 42-year-old man from Tyne-and-Wear, was uninjured.