TRIBUTES have been paid to a popular Christchurch man who died in a car crash in Hampshire.

Dariush Farhadi, 36, who worked at Ali Baba's takeaway in Bargates, was killed in the single-car collision on the A34 near Whitchurch on May 16.

His car came off the northbound carriageway before colliding with a tree.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dariush's boss, Hossein Khajavi, who owns Ali Baba's said he will be greatly missed.

“He worked here for 12 or 13 years and lived in Southampton for two or three years as well, which is where most of his friends are.

“I took over the shop five years ago. Dariush was a very nice person, friendly - everybody loved him. It's very sad.

“So many people have been in talking about him.

“He also played for a local football club at Two Riversmeet.

“I think all his family are in Iran.”

Mr Khajavi said the first he knew about Dariush's death was when he didn't come to work on the Friday - a day after the crash took place.

“Dariush had Thursdays off and he sent me a text the night of the crash about 12.45am to say he was closing the shop”, he said.

“He didn't mention anything about travelling away.

“The next thing, a friend had phoned on Friday and said have you seen him, he should be in the shop.

“He was always very reliable so I just knew something had happened.

“Eventually the police told me the news.

“I just knew - it was one of those situations that never happens.

“I don't know exactly what happened that night but it is very sad. He will be missed by a lot of people. He was very well-known.”

An inquest into Dariush's death was opened and adjourned until July 18 by the coroner for North East Hampshire.

His body is believed to have been repatriated to his family in Iran.