Police today paid tribute to a constable killed in a car crash hours after policing New Year celebrations.

PC Tokunbo "Tok" Ezobi, 26, transferred from Sussex Police to the Metropolitan force in September and was heading for his home in Hove when the crash happened.

His green Peugeot 406 saloon smashed through the central barrier of the A27 at Bolney and landed on its roof just after 3am on New Year's Day.

Mr Ezobi leaves a partner, Wendy who is six months pregnant, their son Kane who was one on Christmas Day and Wendy's two other sons Gareth, nine, and Reece, six.

Acting Sergeant Brett Grisbrook, based in Brighton, said: "Tok was a completely dedicated family man who lived for Wendy and the children.

"As a police officer, he was an example to us all, always extremely well turned out, professional, enthusiastic and whose standards were very high.

"He was a large man, 6ft 4in, and made of muscle. His size and manner by themselves would defuse potentially difficult situations.

"Tok had a fantastic sense of humour and was fun to work with. He was one of the most laid-back people I have met.

"We are all shocked by his death and he will be dearly missed by a lot of people."

PC Ezobi, a probationer in Sussex and who served more than two years with the force before transferring, had just finished a shift at Brixton police station, London, where he was based.

Chief Superintendent Brian Moore, commander for Lambeth, London, said: "This has come as a great shock.

"Tok was a big man with a warm and quiet demeanour and had already made a very positive impression.

"His team learned the news when they came on duty today and are very upset. We are thinking about his family and hope we can be of help but we were part of his family too and we feel their sense of grief."

Witnesses to the crash should contact the Road Policing Unit at Haywards Heath on 0845 6070 999.