A motorcyclist who died in a crash less than three weeks after his wedding has been described as a 'perfect husband' by his grieving widow.

Shaun Ellis, 27, from Hellesdon, died last Friday and also leaves behind a 15-month-old son.

His wife Rachel, 26, said their wedding at the Oaklands Hotel, in Thorpe St Andrew, on August 20 was the 'best day of their lives'.

The couple met when both worked at McDonald's restaurant near Norwich airport, which is close to their home in Dennis Road.

Mrs Ellis said: 'We met at McDonald's 10 years ago this year. That's where we fell in love. We had been together eight years this Christmas. We got married on August 20 and it was the best day of our lives. We booked our honeymoon for next year because we wanted to take our son Dougie with us, when he would be a bit older.'

She said her husband, who was a former pupil at Hellesdon High School, was a 'brilliant father'.

'He loved to fix things around the house. He could anything. He fitted our kitchen, and did all the work on it. He was really excited about one day teaching Dougie how to fly a kite. He loved watching Thomas the Tank Engine with him, and probably enjoyed it more than Dougie did.

'He used to love picking up Dougie from his nursery on his bike.

'As a family we used to love going to Weybourne train station in north Norfolk and had planned to go this weekend for a 1940s event where they dress up.'

Mr Ellis died when his motorbike was involved in a collision with a car between Reepham and Bawdeswell on September 7.

His wife said he loved riding his motorbike and added: 'He was the most sensible person and I was never scared of him going out on his bike. I never said to him 'Please, don't go'

'When he went out on Friday with a couple of his friends he went to a meet at Bawdeswell. He used to really enjoy it.'

Mr Ellis's parents, Stephen and Averil Ellis, who live nearby in Bush Road, Hellesdon, said he was a 'perfect son'.

Mr Ellis said: 'It's a tragedy. He would do anything for anybody.'

His wife added: 'He was the perfect son in every way - the perfect brother, daddy, husband and grandson. He loved his life. We had a tremendous summer leading up to the wedding. He loved Rachel and Dougie so much.'

Shaun's sister Kirsty added that her brother and Rachel were the perfect couple.

Tributes to Mr Ellis have also been paid by staff at McDonald's, where he was the maintenance engineer after starting there part-time while still at school.

McDonald's franchisee Kevin Foley said: 'Everyone was stunned when we heard about the accident.

'Having worked with us for nearly 10 years he was truly a member of our 'family' here.

'His dedication to the job, reliability and friendliness will be sorely missed and the void he leaves will be impossible to fill.

'As a family, our thoughts and prayers go to Rachel, Dougie and their family and we will be there to support them in time of need.'

Martyn Barrett, business manager at McDonald's at the airport, added on behalf of the staff: 'He was always happy and looked on the bright side of everything and there isn't a person that didn't like him or he didn't like.

'He was one of those people who didn't have a bad word to say about anybody. Shaun genuinely was a nice guy and as a result he has touched the hearts of everyone he came in to contact with. His character will not be forgotten and this really is an injustice for him to be taken so suddenly. We will miss him greatly.'

An inquest into Mr Ellis's death was opened and adjourned in Norwich on Wednesday. The hearing was told that Mr Ellis was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, near Model Cottage Farm kennels on the B1145. He had been travelling towards Bawdeswell when his blue Honda Hornet collided with a green Kia Carens travelling in the opposite direction.

Mr Ellis' funeral will be held at St Faith's Crematorium, near Norwich, at 10.15am on Monday, September 24.

Would you like to pay tribute to Mr Ellis? Email reporter David Bale at david.bale2@archant.co.uk