TRIBUTES have been paid to a firefighter who was killed as he cycled along a country lane.Gordon Smith, 46, of, Farriers Chase, West Mersea, died after his bicycle was in collision with a car at Great Wigborough on Saturdayafternoon.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a firefighter who was killed as he cycled along a country lane.

Gordon Smith, 46, of, Farriers Chase, West Mersea, died after his bicycle was in collision with a car at Great Wigborough on Saturdayafternoon. He was named by police yesterday.

Mr Smith was a retained firefighter at West Mersea fire station. He had been a firefighter for nearly 18 years, serving with the Kent Fire Brigade for 16 years.

Station officer Graham Sellears,supervisory Fire Officer for West Mersea Fire Station, paid tribute to Mr Smith.

"Gordon was a devoted husband and father. His temperament and character made him ideally suited to be a member of the Fire Service. He had devoted nearly 18 years of his life to serving the public of both Essex and Kent.

He added: "Gordon was a keen cyclist and used cycling both as a recreational activity as well as using it to help maintain the high level of fitness required for carrying out his job as a retained firefighter."

"Gordon will be remembered as a person with two loves in his life, his family and the fire service. His professionalism, dedication and friendship will be sorely missed."

Mr Sellears said Mr Smith always wore high visibility clothes and a cycle helmet whenever he rode his bike.

Mr Smith was cycling towards Peldon on Maldon Road, at Great Wigborough, when he was in collision with a dark coloured Peugeot 205 being driven by a 22-year-old man at 4.15pm.

The car driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and released on police bail to return to Colchester police on September 19.

Police are appealing for any witnesses to the crash to contact Stanway road policing unit on 01206 762512.