IPSWICH: Tributes were today paid to an “extremely well liked” construction worker who was crushed under a bus in Ipswich.

Alan Harding lost his fight for life at Ipswich Hospital at the weekend after the horror collision in Duke Street last Thursday.

Mr Harding, of Cobwells Close in Fleckney, Leicestershire, suffered serious head injuries in the collision with the Ipswich Buses Number Six service.

The roofing contractor had been working on the new University Campus Suffolk student accommodation building on the Waterfront for just a week when the accident happened.

Based at the Willmott Dixon site, the 25-year-old was working under subcontractor MARS, a roofing and building firm.

Today, a spokeswoman for MARS said the company had lost an “extremely well liked young man”.

Joyce Churchill, personal assistant to the managing director, said: “He was quite new to the company having started in 2008 – although he had been known to the managers for quite some time.

“He was an extremely well liked young man.

“He was a family man and exceptionally well thought of within the company.

“He will be sadly missed by all.”

A spokesman for Willmott Dixon added: “It’s been a hard time and a traumatic time particularly for those who worked alongside Mr Harding.”

An inquest into the death is expected to be opened over the next few days.

n Did you know Mr Harding? Do you want to pay tribute to him? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail evening starletters@evening star.co.uk