A POPULAR Civic Centre employee has been killed in Suffolk road accident.Jim Thomson, 24, worked at Ipswich council as a quantity surveyor – and was just six months away from completing a degree in the subject.

By Nick Richards

A POPULAR Civic Centre worker has been killed in Suffolk road accident.

Jim Thomson, 24, worked at Ipswich council as a quantity surveyor – and was just six months away from completing a degree in the subject.

Mr Thomson died when the Ford Fiesta he was driving collided with a Ford Mondeo on the A134 Long Melford bypass on Wednesday night.

Graham French, principal quantity surveyor at the council, said Mr Thomson, who lived with his girlfriend in New Street, Sudbury, was a popular and valued member of staff.

He said the entire council staff had been shocked and saddened by his death.

"Jim was a very popular young man and everyone here is devastated by the fact that he has gone. I think we were all deeply shocked when we heard the news and we're still struggling to come to terms with it. He was very outgoing and extremely popular.

He added: "It's always sad when someone so young loses their life but he was always so full of fun it seems to make it worse. He was liked by everyone."

Mr French said his colleague was looking forward to a rewarding career.

"He was very good at his job and I'm sure he would have had a bright future."

The quantity surveyor said Mr Thomson would also be remembered for his love of sport – particularly horse racing, football – he was an ardent Liverpool fan – and fishing.

Mr French added: "He was a bit of an expert when it came to horse racing and knew all the breeding history and form. He didn't really gamble, he just loved the sport.

"He would take holidays so he could watch special racing meetings on the television and pursue his love of river fishing."

n A man who was killed when his car was in a collision with a van at Worlingham on the A146 Beccles bypass has been named.

Anthony Rankin, 55, married his 36-year-old wife in March after a 12-year relationship and had lived in Beccles for three years.

The driver of the van received minor injuries.