Neighours and friends today paid tribute to road-rage victim George Osborne, who died after he was attacked in his car.

The 75-year-old had his head banged repeatedly against his steering wheel by his attacker.

Mr Osborne, of Bursted Close, Hollingbury, Brighton, drove off but collapsed seconds before his car crashed into a telegraph pole.

He was pronounced dead at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

One neighbour described Mr Osborne as "one of the nicest people you could hope to meet".

Friends said he was devoted to his wife Vera and their three sons.

Catherine O'Mahoney said: "He would always stop and have a chat.

"I was talking to him only the other morning about how the daffodils outside my flat were coming up so early.

"I don't know what his wife Vera is going to do without him as they were devoted to each other."

Another neighbour said: "I am shocked. George was the type of person who wouldn't have hurt a fly.

"He and Vera have lived here for the past eight or nine years. He was a lovely man."

She described them as a quiet couple who kept themselves to themselves but who were on first- name terms with people living nearby.

She said: "I don't think you would find anyone with anything nasty to say about him.

"Our dog was ill last year and when we got the bill for £200 he offered to help us pay it.

"That was the type of person he was. He was a caring man and would always ask how we were.

"His death is going to be a huge shock to people living around here."

Witnesses said Mr Osborne was driving his red Ford Fiesta to shops in Hollingbury Place, Hollingdean, Brighton, at about 6pm on Tuesday when he stopped for a young man crossing the road.

Words were exchanged and, when Mr Osborne parked, the man came over and attacked him.

Mr Osborne told passers-by he was fine and drove off.

Minutes later, his car crashed into a pole nearby in The Crestway.

A 27-year-old man was today helping police with their inquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Sally Simmonds, heading Operation Nucleus, appealed to witnesses and anyone with information to contact Brighton police.