A “friendly and welcoming” former councillor has been paid homage after he died in a motorcycle accident on holiday.

Kurt Stephens, believed to be mid fifties, died in a multi-vehicle crash in Calais shortly after leaving the Channel Tunnel on Thursday, according to reports.

Travelling with fellow Wheel Motorcycle Club members, the experienced rider was en route to Belgium when the motorway accident involving four bikes happened, it is understood.

Fellow Sandgate parish councillor and friend Tim Prater said Mr Stephens was a: “A fierce friend, prepared to do anything he could for anyone and his area, so in love with and proud of his wife Tracy Stephens and the business she built with him on Sandgate High Street.

“His loss will leave a big hole in the lives of those touched by him.”

The former Liberal Democrat parish councillor for Sandgate previously worked for Holiday Extras in Newingreen.

He also worked as the company secretary for wife Tracey’s seamstress and tailoring firm Acula Creations in Sandgate High Street.

Now, a GoFundMe page set up to help the family has raised almost £400 out of a £1,500 total.

It says: “He was well known throughout the village as a friendly and welcoming face, including regularly dressing up to support charity and promoting the village and Acula Creations.

“This collection is for his wife Tracy Stephens to deal with any costs and expenses over the next few months.

“Any donations will collected together and go to Tracy to allow her to deal with costs at this awful time.”

Touching tributes continue to appear on social media networking sites.

One Facebook user wrote on the Sunny Sandgate page: “So sad he was a very lovely caring man.

“I will miss his cheerful hellos and his smiley face in the High Street.”

Mr Stephens was appointed as a Sandgate parish councillor in May 2016 following the resignation of Leo Griggs and resigned earlier this year.

He was a trustee and treasurer of Sandgate’s Chichester Memorial Hall and recently became the standard bearer for the Royal British Legion’s Sandgate branch.