A HAMPSHIRE community is in mourning after a respected father of five died after being involved in an acccident with a car.

Michael Teague, 53, pictured right, was cycling to his home after enjoying a few drinks at a nearby pub when the collision occurred in Fawley on Saturday night.

The devoted dad was an active member of the Waterside Catholic parish and was employed by the Cadland Estate near Calshot to do farming and maintenance work.

Mr Teague leaves a wife Marion and children Michael, 16, Patrick, 15, Elizabeth, 12, Lewis, 11, and Hannah, 8.

Close family friend Father Ray Lyons said: "Michael will be terribly missed.

"I have been a minister for 15 years and I have never seen so many tears.

"There were 400 people at Mass yesterday and every one of them was in tears.

"I think he will be remembered as a true salt of the earth.

"He was totally loyal, dependable, reliable and incredibly hardworking."

Mr Teague lived near Calshot for many years and was a regular at two local pubs, The Old Mill Inn at Holbury and The Forest Home at Hardley.

He served as a master of ceremonies at St Bernard's Church in Holbury and was also a member of the Waterside Catholic Parish Pastoral Council.

Father Lyons, who knew Mr Teague for more than ten years, added: "Michael was the most pragmatic, practical person. His feet were always on the ground."

"He did all sorts of things for people. Anybody who was ill or elderly, he always went round and did their shopping, did their gardening or took Communion to them.

"He was very well-known. We all gathered at The Old Mill late on Sunday night and the cross section of society there was amazing. From youngsters right through to all ages and all sorts of backgrounds. Everybody had a tale of how he had touched their lives."

Mr Teague was cycling along Fawley Road, Fawley, when he was in collision with white Mercedes Sprinter van travelling in the same direction.

The collision occurred near the village centre at about 11.10pm on Saturday.

Mr Teague was taken to Southampton General Hospital but died there shortly afterwards.

A man arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol has been bailed to return to Lyndhurst police station on June 27.