A devastated wife today told how the father of her four children was killed riding the motorbike he loved.

Stacey and Sean Lucas, 33, had moved into their dream home just days before the fatal accident with their children Yuvonna, ten; Elouise, nine; Sonia, seven and three-year-old Kyle Sean.

Mr Lucas had taken a day off from his business, Lucas Suspended Ceilings, to ride the bike with his long-standing friend Andy Taggart.

He passed his test in October and was still cautious about riding the 750cc Suzuki in the wet or dark.

But as he rode behind Mr Taggart on the A283 between Washington and Storrington at 7.15pm on Saturday, his bike slid across the road and was hit by a Peugeot 305 coming the other way.

Mrs Lucas, of Morland Avenue, Worthing, said: "It was a lovely dry afternoon and he asked me if it was all right to go out and I said yes.

"He absolutely idolised that motorbike - it was his great, great passion and it always cleared his head after going out for a ride.

"The kids are still talking to him. They have grabbed near enough every photo and they're all round their rooms.

"My middle daughter was in her room listening to some really loud music. When I went up there she was sitting at her desk and she had written on a piece of paper, 'I love my dad, I love my dad,' over and over again. I just grabbed her and held on to her.

"My three-year-old thinks dad's coming back one day down from the sky and that's his way of coping."

The couple met 11 years ago at the wedding of Mrs Lucas's sister Angela.

Mrs Lucas said it was love at first sight and they instantly knew they would spend their lives together. They married at Sompting United Reformed Church almost two years ago.

The former Hove Park School pupil said: "As Sean always said to his friends, we were soul mates, best friends and lovers because we got on so well.

"His dream was to get this big detached house and he got it only a week and a half ago - he got all he wanted. I just hope that I can finish the home off for him in the way he wanted it."