The grieving daughter of a man who died in a motorbike accident has paid tribute to her father.

Paul Devlin, 46, of Highfields Road, Witham, a self-employed painter and decorator, died after being thrown from his Honda 900cc bike on the A414 near High Ongar on Saturday.

His daughter Rita Chalkley, 25, who is expecting her first child any day, described her father as a "happy-go-lucky" man who was devoted to his family and was the rock on whom they all leant.

"He was very much the joker -- always entertaining everyone, very lively and always the centre of attention."

Mr Devlin married his childhood sweetheart, Carole, 29 years ago, and they had a son Allan, 28, who worked with his father, as well as daughter Rita.

He was also close to his mother and sister who both live in London.

Mrs Chalkley said her father was a fitness fanatic, who was a black belt in karate, a member of Witham Running Club and a keen triathlete.

One of his other hobbies was motorcycling and on the day of the accident, her father and mother had been out to buy him a new bike suit for his birthday in August.

Mrs Chalkley said: "He went out for a bike ride and had only just bought the suit that day and wanted to try it out.

"He actually spoke to my brother on the phone and said he had had an excellent day -- one of the best days he had had for ages."

Mrs Chalkley said it was a comfort that everyone in the family had either spoken to her father or seen him that day.

Mr Devlin, she said, was looking forward to the birth of his second grandchild to join his son's daughter Georgia.

"Obviously the baby is even more important now for me especially, but even to my mum and the rest of the family.

"One life is taken and another life begins," said Mrs Chalkley.

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