A HEARTBROKEN father has paid tribute to his "fantastic" son and thanked people for the support they have shown in the wake of his tragic death.

Chris Brookes, from Wrens Nest, died shortly after he found with head injuries in a bus lane on the Wolverhampton Ring Road in the early hours of Sunday morning (October 29).

His death is not being treated as suspicious - police believe he had fallen from the footbridge near the city's train station.

The 22-year-old's devastated father, Philip Brookes, said it seemed to be "a tragic accident".

Paying tribute to his son, who worked as a general assembler at Elta Fans in Kingswinford, he said: "He was our little raver. I never saw him without a smile on his face.

"He just loved life. He was the joker of the family and wanted to make everyone laugh. I never saw him down."

He continued: "We spoke most days and saw each other most weekends. We're a really close family, we're all best friends as well."

Mr Brookes said his son, who was dad to three-year-old Layla Jade, was also expecting his first child with partner Sarah Jayne in January - a boy who will now be called Chris Jr in his honour.

A Crowdfunding page was set up yesterday (Tuesday) to raise funds to support Chris' children and to get something made to remember him by.

Within 24 hours, 142 people have chipped in to raise £2,915 - just £85 shy of the £3,000 target.

Messages left on the page expressed how much Chris would be missed and Mr Brookes said he had read every single one.

He continued: "I'd like to thank people for the donations, the comforting words and the beautiful things that they have said.

"I think Chris would be really proud. It has give us a little comfort, knowing he was loved so much and that he had touched everyone's hearts.

"He was a fantastic guy."

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the fund can do so via www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ripchrisbrookes.