Friends today paid tribute to a champion banger racer who died suddenly, aged 28.

Father-of-three Scott Buchannen was found dead on the morning he was due to race in his first demolition derby for six months.

His devastated friends said Mr Buchannen spent weeks fitting a Jaguar engine into his car for the big day.

His body was discovered on March 29, at his home in Old Shoreham Road, Lancing, which he shared with friend Mike Lucas.

Mr Lucas, 33, had asked a work colleague to make sure car dealer Mr Buchannen was ready to go to the derby, in Bournemouth, but she was unable to rouse him.

Mr Lucas, who works at Just Us doctors recruitment agency in Worthing, said: "A lot of friends were going to Bournemouth to watch him."

The cause of Mr Buchannen's death has not yet been determined, despite an investigation.

Mr Lucas has found it difficult not knowing how his friend died but is determined to make Mr Buchannen's wake at the Dolphin Pub, Worthing, a success.

He said: "Not just me, all his friends have been completely devastated - he was such a popular person.

"Scott was a lovely, fun-loving kind of bloke. He loved going out. He was the life and soul of the party.

"He was junior European champion for banger racing. He had been doing it since he was a lad and loved it. We miss him dearly."

Mr Buchannen originally came from Poole, in Dorset, and had three sons, age six, four and one.

His mother Ginnie Gollin, of Poole, said: "I'm in limbo. Why has such a young man died? He did have pancreas problems. Maybe it's a number of things accumulating."

Mr Buchannen's funeral is at Poole Crematorium tomorrow at 11am, and the wake will start at the Dolphin at 4pm.

A date has yet to be set for an inquest.