A YOUNG wife today paid tribute to her fun-loving, devoted husband who lost his fight for life after a road smash.

And Wendy Stuchbury told how she is unable to break the tragic news of her husband Andy's death to their four-year-old son Connor.

Cyclist Andy, aged 33, had been riding home from work when he was involved in a collision with a car at the junction of Chorley New Road and Hartley Street, Horwich, on Wednesday evening, just yards from his home. He died in the Royal Bolton Hospital Intensive Care Unit yesterday afternoon from severe head, pelvic and leg injuries.

Today police confirmed that a man would appear at Bolton magistrates court charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Heartbroken Wendy speaking from the couple's home in Hartley Street, described her 33-year-old husband as being full of life.

Andrew was well-known in Horwich as a keen cyclist and a "bit of a comedian". He recently stole the show at Horwich Carnival winning a talent contest as Roy "Chubby" Brown.

His wife told how Andy was always "fooling around" and had a love of life.

Wendy said: "I can not tell Connor that his father is dead. Connor just thinks Andy's in the hospital. But I know when he comes back from his grandparents he's going to start asking for his daddy."

Andy's mum, Pam, is now appealing for the good Samaritan who stopped and held his head as he lay in the road, to come forward.

Pam said: "I want to meet with him, and a nurse who was passing from Beaumont Hospital, to thank them personally for what they tried to do for Andy."

Wendy said that her husband was always very careful on his bike and would never take chances crossing busy roads.

Wendy who had been married for five years, said: "These last 24 hours have been hell but everyone has been marvellous including hospital staff and people at Andy's works. I am finding it hard to put into words what Andy was like but he was a joker and loved making people smile. He always used to dress up like Chubby Brown who was his favourite comedian. He was a really good mimic."

Andrew was a former Rivington and Blackrod High School pupil and had worked part-time at Horwich Fire station as a firefighter before joining Chamberlain Doors Ltd, Blackrod, 13 years ago.

His colleagues at Chamberlain Doors also paid tribute to the "happy and devoted family man".

A company spokesman said: "Andy possessed many of the qualities often lacking today - loyalty, pride in his work, a cheerful approach to an honest day's work and a great sense of humour.

"He once told us that he had an ambition to be just like his dad and stay with one company for the whole of his working life. This was one ambition he tragically achieved.

"Men like Andrew make companies like ours. We could not count the times that colleagues, customers and visitors have said to him "Thanks Andy, you're a star.

"He was just the nicest and most sincere young man you could ever wish to meet."

After the accident, the car was later found at the Beehive island at the junction of Chorley New Road and Mansell Way.

A front seat passenger in the car was transferred to Withington Hospital for surgery on a badly gashed arm.

Damien Holt, aged 23, of Ormston Avenue, Horwich, had been charged with causing death by dangerous driving.