A GRIEVING family is struggling to come to terms with the loss of their dad who died in a road accident on his way to work.

The family of Bournemouth University security officer and caretaker, Dave Clarke of Southill Road in Winton, want anyone who saw the 7am crash to call police in confidence.

Mr Clarke, a 60-year-old married man with four grown-up children was driving along Charminster Road on Monday, August 4 when a Ford Escort and his Peugeot 206 collided at the Strouden Road junction.

Mr Clarke, who died in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, leaves his wife Mary, 54, his sons Patrick, 34, Stuart, 31, and James, 29, and his daughter Liz, 22.

Mary, a civil servant, said: "Losing Dave is an indescribable pain. Dave and I grew up together.

"Friends and his work colleagues have described him as a very gentle and thoughtful man, and one of life's characters.

"On the morning of the accident, we were all rushing round getting ready for work and I said goodbye to him, not realising it would be the last time I saw him."

Mary remembered: "After meeting each other at the Boscombe ballroom back in 1964, Dave and I rode off into the night on his silver Vespa scooter. He was wild and very good looking and had so much energy."

Mr Clarke's daughter, Liz, recalled her father's love of great family outings, mass family cricket matches in the New Forest, camping, fishing and swimming.

Witnesses and anyone with information are asked to call Dorset Police on 01202 222500 or the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.