Tributes to 'fantastic guy' who died in M5 crash

Tributes were today paid to a victim of Britain's worst motorway disaster in 20 years as detectives investigated whether smoke from a nearby fireworks display caused the crash.

Malcolm Beacham, from Woolavington in Somerset, a member of a re-enactment group, was the latest of the seven people killed in the 34-car pile-up on the M5 on Friday to be named. Another 51 people were injured.

Fellow members of Company Of Chivalry, the medieval re-enactment group where he was events co-ordinator, today described him as a "fantastic guy". One comment, left on the Living History website by a user named Martin, said: "Malcolm was a fantastic guy, a true stalwart of the re-enactment community...you will be sorely missed."

Mr Beacham lived with his partner Sarah, son Daniel and daughter Kim in the rural village. His family were too upset to speak. His nephew, Matt Beacham, wrote on his Facebook page: "So unfair how it all happens to the nice guys. Big love goes out to all of my family tonight. RIP Malcolm x."

Hundreds of people in the nearby town of Bridgwater held a minute's silence before laying floral tributes. Police believe the crash may have been caused when smoke from a rugby club fireworks display turned treacherous fog into an impenetrable black cloud. However, the event organiser insisted he had been made a "scapegoat".

Geoff Counsell, who owns Firestorm Pyrotechnics, said he had carried out a full safety review before the display.

He said: "I can guarantee I would not have fired the display if it was the slightest bit unsafe. There was no more smoke than usual."

West Somerset coroner Michael Rose plans to open inquests on Thursday.