A mother has spoken of her devastation after her young son was killed in a motorcycle crash on the A217 in Sutton.

Luke Whicher, 19, a talented bass guitarist, was in collision with a Mercedes 4x4 as he rode home to Banstead two weeks ago.

The former Beacon School pupil was taken to St George’s Hospital, Tooting, but died of his injuries on Saturday, May 16.

This week his grieving mother, Angela Higgs, paid a moving tribute to a popular son who had “the biggest of smiles”.

She told the Sutton Guardian: “Luke was loved by everybody.

"He was quiet, unassuming and just a lovely, beautiful caring guy. He loved his music and his bike.

“No one ever had a bad word to say about Luke, he was a real credit to his family. We are all so shocked. It is such a waste.”

Luke had been working evening shifts at Asda while taking a vocational course in guitar making at Merton College.

A friend, from Epsom, left a further tribute on our website, saying: “Luke was a lovely quiet, placid, shy young man who loved to build and to play bass guitar. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

The Mercedes driver, a local woman, stopped at the scene of the crash at about 9.10pm. No arrests have since been made.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “On Thursday, May 14, a fatal road traffic collision occurred in Belmont Rise, Sutton, at its junction with Northdown Road. The incident involved a Mercedes 4x4 and a Yamaha motorcycle. The motorcyclist died from the injuries he received.”

Anyone with any information has been asked to call the Collision Investigation Unit at Hampton Traffic Garage on 020 8941 9011.

•Did you know the young biker? Leave your messages of tribute to Luke in the comments section below.