THE funeral of a Kidderminster worker who died when the van he was driving collided with a tanker near Kidderminster will take place next week.

The service for Robert Coulson, 71, from Coppice Lane, Quarry Bank, in Brierley Hill, know to his family as Bob, will be held at Stourbridge Crematorium on Thursday next week (March 13) at 12.20pm.

Anyone who knew him is welcome to attend and donations in his memory will be given to the Midlands Air Ambulance in appreciation of efforts made to save his life.

The collision happened on the A449 Worcester Road near the Mare and Colt pub at about 11.45am on Tuesday last week and involved a white Citroen Nemo panel van driven by Mr Coulson, travelling towards Kidderminster and a grey DAF tanker heading the opposite way - the lorry driver, from Gosport, Hampshire, was uninjured.

The van was wedged under the front section of the tanker as a result of the collision. Mr Coulson had to be freed by the fire service and was airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham but died shortly after arrival.

The Worcestershire coroner has opened an inquest into the death, the date for a final hearing is yet to be announced.

Anyone with information or who witnessed the collision who has not already spoken to officers investigating should contact PC Lee Baker in the operational policing unit at Rubery Police Station on 101, quoting incident 221-S-250214.