A grieving New Malden family have paid tribute to their "entrepreneurial" youngest child who loved doing up old motorbikes.

Laurent Patrick Cullinan, known fondly by friends as Patrick, died weeks before his 26th birthday after his pushbike was hit by a car in Kingston Road, Raynes Park at 12.45am on Saturday.

Cyclist dies after collision with car in Raynes Park

It is believed he was cycling home to Burghley Avenue after meeting with friends earlier in the evening.

His father Harry Cullinan, a former lawyer, said: "We had a great relationship. We used to talk about all sorts of things - business projects, how he was going to make money - and he would have made money.

"He was very entrepreneurial. He could work out without much effort that if he did this and if he did that, he could sell it on at a decent profit.

"I have so many fond memories of him. He was very outgoing without being an OTT individual. He was a giver not a taker. He would help anyone in need. It was in his nature. He had so many ambitions.

"He would say 'dad I don't want to work for someone my whole life'."

Laurent, who had a long-term girlfriend of seven years, had just finished his two-year course in aeronautical engineering at Kingston College and attained merits and distinctions.

Mr Cullinan said: "He had over the years stripped and rebuilt two motorbikes. He was a bit of a perfectionist. The bikes were his pride and joy. He completely rebuilt them. He was a night bird - bit like me, he worked in the night."

Of one particular bike, he said: "He was so scared it would get nicked - it was a fairly old bike but it was worth about £10,000, a collector's bike. Wherever he rode it he would not park it anywhere."

But his skills were not limited to fast rides, he even hoped to do up a lawnmower.

Mr Cullinan said: "He acquired an old lawnmower from World War Two and he said 'Dad this is built just like a tank'. He was going to restore it. But he didn't get round to it. It's somewhere in the garden."

Laurent, who was half French, attended a Kensington French school and later a school in Sunbury. He was also a foodie and had his own secret recipes that he would not dish out.

Mr Cullinan said: "He was a great cook. He had a special dressing but he wouldn't tell anyone the recipe - not even his girlfriend. He was a great meat lover. His favourite restaurant was anywhere with meat. He was all for juicy steaks.

"He had so many friends. After college finished, a couple of weeks ago he held a barbecue in Bushy Park. I told him he was going to get caught - if he did, he didn't tell me."

Laurent hoped to travel to Australia and enjoyed animal documentaries. He was also a great fan of David Attenborough.

His French mother Colette, a bilingual secretary, said: "Since he was little he loved dinosaurs - he could never spell their names but he could pronounce them all.

"I always spoke to him in French so he wouldn't forget the language. He was fluent. I will miss him so much. He was a lovely, kind person. It is all so fresh."

She added she expected she would need to take counselling.

Mr Cullinan said: "The doctors told us we are very, very sorry we have done all that we can. He was five hours in theatre and then they said unfortunately he is going to die. We went to the intensive unit and we literally watched him pass away over three hours.

"My feeling is that he has not just taken my son, but taken a huge part of me and I am sure it is the same for his mother, brother and sister and many other people. He had so much to live for - so much to do.

"The only consolation is that he was not conscious through his suffering.

"All we have got now are the very many happy, heartwarming memories of him."

In an emotional appeal on Facebook the day after the collusion, Mr Cullinan's sister, Natacha Cullinan, who works in marketing, said: "It is with a heavy heart and a state of utter shock that I am appealing to you all for your help.

"My little brother was killed in a collision in South Wimbledon last night, any witnesses please come forward please."

The car, a silver Honda Accord, stopped after the accident. A 32-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, has been bailed until September.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 020 8543 5157