PARENTS of a former Weymouth student who died in a car crash near Dorchester today paid an emotional tribute to their son.

Roy Purnell, 61, and his wife Brenda, 57, spoke of their son Robert and appealed for witnesses to the accident on the A37 to come forward.

Their plea comes before the funeral of the 25-year-old aircraft engineer in Yeovil tomorrow - 10 days after the crash on May 4.

Mr Purnell used to go fishing with his cousin at Abbotsbury in Weymouth and had just passed his yachtmaster certificate after studying in Weymouth, Swanage and Poole.

Mrs Purnell said: "Rob was a brilliant son - everyone loved him.

"No one ever said a bad word about Rob, who would do anything to help anyone.

"We've had so many people who Rob knew come to the house and tell us that. He was loved by a great many people."

She added: "We've received between 60 and 70 cards - everyone, friends, family and neighbours have been very kind. Roy and I want to thank them for that."

Rob Purnell, who had worked at Westland in Yeovil as an aircraft engineer since he was 17 years old, died after a crash involving his Ford Fiesta car and an Isuzu jeep towing a caravan one mile north of the Holywell crossroads.

Mr Purnell, who was driving towards Dorchester, died at the scene of the accident.

His death came 18 months after his cousin, who was in his 30s and lived in Abbotsbury near Weymouth, died after falling ill in February last year.

Mrs Purnell said: "Rob and his cousin used to love to go fishing at Abbotsbury."

Mr Purnell, who lived with his fiance Nicky in Yeovil, had passed his firearms certificate and used to go shooting with his father.

His parents and police have appealed to the drivers of two vehicles in the vicinity of the accident to come forward.

They were driving a dark grey metallic Rover 400 car and a red Mondeo or Vauxhall-type saloon car travelling towards Yeovil in front of an articulated lorry.

Robert's father Roy, who works as an aircraft components paint sprayer said: "You couldn't wish for a better son than Rob.

"He loved fishing, repairing cars, going out shooting and he loved his family and friends."

The drivers of the two cars and anyone who knows the whereabouts of the drivers or the vehicles are urged to call PC Gareth Blaken, of Dorchester police, on (01305) 226865 or the confidential Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.

A 72-YEAR-OLD Dorset man died after the car he was driving careered off the road and hit a tree.

The man, who is from the Sherborne area, died after his white Rover Maestro left the road at the junction of Load Lane and Hillfield Lane at Leigh, near Sherborne, around 2.05am earlier today and smashed into the tree.

He died at the scene of the accident. Police are appealing for any witnesses to contact them on (01305) 226862.