A PEDESTRIAN who was killed in an early morning crash with a car near Verwood has been named locally as Thomas Lenton.

Tributes to the 23-year-old have been posted on Facebook following his death on Saturday.

A Verwood local, he died at the scene of the crash, which took place on the B3081 Verwood Road, near to the Somerley Household Waste Recycling Centre, at 5.45am.

The driver of a blue Peugeot 208 involved in the incident, a 29-year-old woman, was uninjured.

Floral tributes, photographs, and Budweiser beer cans have been left at the roadside.

On Sunday, Verwood All Stars Football Club held a minute’s applause in Mr Lenton's memory. Members of the team also wore black T-shirts to pay their respects.

The club said: “As a club we would like to give our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the 23-year-old male from Verwood that was involved in the collision.

“The club would like to offer any support to the friends, family or anyone that was involved or knew the young male.

“Our thoughts and prayers be with the family and friends.”

Friends of Mr Lenton described him as a “very good friend to so many people” in posts on Facebook.

One person said he was “such a nice gent and had time for anyone”, while another posted: “You’ll be missed massively by everyone who knew you, honestly one of the funniest and nicest lads I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. Truly no Lenton, no party.”

Friends are gathering at a local pub in Verwood this afternoon in his honour.