"HE was the kind of man who constantly made you laugh and was always there for his friends and family."

Those were the moving words of a grieving mum as she paid tribute to her son who was killed in a motorbike crash in France.

Mark Bettinson died instantly after he collided with a safety barrier in the French Alps near the town of Champagnole close to the Swiss border.

The 27-year-old from Southampton had only just set off on his new bike for a week-long tour of Europe that was supposed to culminate with a track day at Germany's famous Nurburgring circuit.

But two days into the trip, after Mark and friend Dave Hollis had decided to take a scenic detour through the Alps, the crash, described by friends as a "freak accident", happened.

Mr Bettinson's mum Angela, speaking to the Daily Echo at the family home in Hedge End, said his loss had left her and his dad Phil, as well as Mark's younger brother Scott, 23, who is currently in Australia, devastated.

She told how Mark had just been about to propose to his long-term partner of seven years, Beverley Cawte, having already bought a ring and asked her parents permission for her hand in marriage.

She said: "We are absolutely devastated. It is just so painful and has left us shocked, stunned and numb.

"Mark was the kind of man who constantly made you laugh and was always there for his friends and family.

"He had so many plans for the future with Bev, and they had only just bought their new home together in Bitterne, it is unbearably sad.

"He just loved life and you could see it in his eyes that he really enjoyed living life to the full and making every minute count."

Last night Beverley was said to be too distraught to talk.

Angela said Mark always loved cars and motorbikes, and had joined the South Coast Bikers Club a year ago because he had enjoyed riding so much.

She said: "Riding the bike was his passion. He had only picked up his new one at the start of September but had already put 600 miles on it before they went away last Friday.

"We would also like to thank everyone at the club for their thoughts over the past few days."

The family moved to Hampshire from Gosberton in Lincolnshire 14 years ago.

Mark was a former student at Wildern School and Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh before spending two years in the Metropolitan Police.

After leaving the force he then went to Cardiff University where he trained as a lawyer's brief and had recently taken on a new job at Knight Polson solicitors in Eastleigh.

Dave Hollis, 24, who was with him when he died, described Mr Bettinson as being one of the most open, friendly and memorable people he had ever met.

He said: "He had been looking forward to this trip so much, and the drive back without him was heartbreaking. He will be so, so missed by everyone who knew him and even though I'd only known him for a relatively short period of time, I feel like I've lost one of my oldest mates."

Another close friend, Andy Jackson, 29, added: "There are so many words you could use to describe Mark and it's hard to just pick a few.

"He was a top guy, absolutely genuine, fun-loving, open and honest and everyone who met him will miss him dearly."

n The South Coast Bikers Club has launched a collection to raise funds for his family, with anyone wanting to make a contribution able to by visiting www.scbc.co.uk.