MANY tributes have been paid to an East Tilbury man who has died.

Mark Bullock, 54, was well known in the village - not least for his role as a delivery driver for the ChinaTown restaurant, but he has deep-seated roots in the village community and Thurrock in general where he had a career as a professional driver.

Originally from Stifford Clays he moved to East Tilbury with his family as a child and grew up there.

A long time friend is Rosie Roast who runs Rosie's Minibuses in Linford.

She said: "Mark was such a lovely man, I have so many wonderful memories of him growing up. He was a bit younger than me but I remember him and his family, especially his mum. It's just so sad."

Hundreds of comments in similar vein have been made on social media, summed up by village councillor Fraser Massey who said: "I didn't know Mark that well but right from first meeting him a few years ago when I returned to the village I knew he was a great guy and that is born out by so many nice comments.

"My condolences to his family."