A POLISH family is mourning the loss of a "hard-working and loving son" who was killed in a horrifying accident on Monday night.

Mariusz Tkacz, of Beswick Avenue, Bournemouth, died when his Suzuki motorcycle collided with a yellow Renault Megane on Boundary Road before hitting two parked cars.

The 28-year-old construction worker, who moved to the area three years ago from his hometown of Kielce, was described as "passionate" about motorbikes and cars. He died at the scene.

Yesterday his tight-knit family and friends within the town's large Polish community told the Daily Echo of their heartbreak.

His father Jerzy, who moved to the UK at the same time as his son, said: "He was a good son. He never drank and he was not a hooligan. He was hard working. He'd come here to work, to get his bike and his car."

Mariusz, who was due to celebrate his birthday next month, worked for VS Rail Construction. He was a trained motorcycle mechanic and had worked for Yamaha in Poland.

Friend Michal Slon said: "He was passionate about motorbikes and a good rider. He got me into them as well. We were supposed to go riding together this year.

He added: "He was going to stay here. He liked Bournemouth very much and said he felt right at home here."

Mariusz's girlfriend of six years, factory worker Grazyna Staniec, 22, said he was her childhood sweetheart. She came to England to be with him 18 months ago.

She said: "For me he was the absolute best man, the most loving person, who helped me in my life and was behind me for every decision I made. I will miss him very much."

Mariusz, who lived with his father, girlfriend and brother Norbert, also leaves behind his mother and two sisters in Poland whom he last saw on a trip home at Easter.

During the crash, his bike was sent careering through a garden wall. Pieces were strewn across two gardens and even through the roof of one building.

Resident Joan Symes, 82, heard the crash.

She said: "All of a sudden there was a horrific bang, it sounded like an explosion. I was quite shaken by it." She later discovered the noise came from the motorcycle's battery crashing through the roof of her bungalow.

She added: "It's a dangerous road. We hear traffic roaring along here all the time and there have been a number of accidents."