A GENTLE giant with a passion for his pets is the description of a Worcester man who tragically lost his life in a crash near Callow End.

Worcester doorman Steve Hartill, aged 30, died last week after the smash in Clevelode.

The accident happened at about 5pm on Thursday (Aug 29) on the B4424 Upton Road when Mr Hartill was driving a blue BMW and was involved in a collision with a white Mercedes Sprinter.

The former Dines Green Primary School and Christopher Whitehead High School pupil was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham and died later that evening.

Mr Hartill, of Low Fold Close, Worcester, was born in Wordsley, near Stourbridge, but moved to Worcester at the age of four.

He studied animal care at Pershore College and used to keep exotic pets including snakes, bearded dragons and scorpions, and doted on his dog, Boe, who is now being looked after by a friend.

Sadly his father died eight years ago, followed by his mother three years ago, and he leaves behind his sister and brother-in-law Sarah and David Guy, and his nephew, their four-year-old son.

His sister said: “He was a big lad, over 6ft tall, but he was the softest and kindest man imaginable, a real gentle giant."

Mr Hartill worked as a factory operative for Permadoor at Upton-on-Severn and in the past had also trained as an electrician and worked in the printing business.

People may also recognise him for his work as a doorman at the Marr’s Bar in Worcester, and his family added he was proud of having achieved his doorman’s qualifications.

Mrs Guy added: “He had a small, close group of friends, but was also in touch with a lot of people through his love of computer games, and we’ve been very touched by the number of tributes which have been posted on his Facebook page.”

It is not yet known where or when the funeral will take place.

Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to contact PC Heather Leech at West Mercia Police on the non-emergency number 0300 333 3000 quoting incident 495-s-290813.