COLLEAGUES have paid tribute to a former Malton store manager who has died aged just 29.

Andrew Hansell, who worked at Boyes in Malton until he transferred to Scarborough, was described as the life and soul of the party by former colleagues who had worked with him at the Ryedale store.

Mr Hansell, who was married and had one daughter, was killed when his Rover 200 was involved in a collision with a BMW car on the A170 outside East Ayton last Tuesday. Malton manageress Sandra Wilson said her predecessor would be sorely missed.

"He was very highly thought of throughout the company," she said.

"We don't have a very high turnover of staff, and quite a few of the girls have worked with him as a colleague and as a friend.

"He was the life and soul of the party, always beaming when you saw him in the store."

Ernie Gee, one of the company's directors, said both the Scarborough and Whitby stores would close as a mark of respect for Mr Hansell's funeral, which takes place tomorrow at St Hilda's Church, Whitby at 11am.

Staff members from Malton will also turn out in force.

Mr Gee said: "It has been a tragedy, it will take us a long time to recover from this.

"He had achieved such a lot and had such potential.

"We have never closed our branches before for a staff member, but we feel it's appropriate that if staff wish to they can go to the funeral."

He added: "Whatever position Andrew applied for with the company, he has been the youngest ever appointed.

"It's a dark period for us and it's going to be very hard for us here, but we are determined to make this Christmas one of our best ever - Andrew loved Christmas."

Updated: 11:26 Tuesday, November 05, 2002