A POPULAR primary school teacher has been killed in a horror smash on a notorious stretch of road.

Jason Fazakerley, 32, who taught Year 1 pupils at Duddon St Peter’s Primary School, was driving from the direction of Tarvin on the A51 Tarporley Road near Okells Nursery, when his car collided with a tree at about 1.15am last Thursday (July 21).

Mr Fazakerley, of South Street, Boughton, died at the scene.

Briscoe’s Dairy milkman Rob Smith, 22, was on the way to his first round when he came across the incident.

He said: “I stayed there until the police came. It is just so sad.”

And this week dozens of tributes and flowers from family, friends and pupils and staff from the school have been left at the scene of the tragedy.

One touching card, written by Jessica and Lucy Young, read: “To Mr Fazakerley, we will miss you so much, you were a great maths teacher.”

Another read: “Dear Mr Fazakerley, you were the best teacher ever. You were a shining star and you still are.”

And on Tuesday, a JustGiving page was set up by Mr Fazakerley’s fiancée Caroline Dangerfield, to raise money in his memory for the Action for Children Charity.

“We felt that this was a charity that Jay would have supported,” she wrote. “He loved working with children and had a particular empathy for those that had struggled with a tough start in life.”

The site has already been flooded with tributes and messages of sympathy.

“We are so sorry to hear about Jay but he has touched so many people’s lives that he will live on forever in their hearts,” said one post, while another read: “Your smile will be lighting up the sky.”

Paul Hudson, headteacher of Duddon St Peter’s Primary School, where Jason, known as ‘Jay’ by many, had worked for two years, said: “Although Jay had only been part of our school community for a short time, he made such a positive impression on us all, especially on the children, who loved his sense of humour. He brought us his enthusiasm, his love of sport and a firm belief in children learning through fun and creativity.

“The staff, parents and children are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy. He leaves a gap in our community which will be hard to fill.”

To donate to Jason’s JustGiving page visit http://www.justgiving.com/Jay- Fazakerley