SHOCK has been expressed after a well-known and popular St Dogmaels man was knocked down and killed by a car on the outskirts of Cardigan in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Steffan Thomas, a 33-year-old carpenter and long-serving member of St Dogmaels Football Club, is thought to have been walking home when the accident happened on the Fishguard Road near Ridgeway Roundabout at around 4am.

Mr Thomas, the only son of Rhys and Julia Thomas, of Rhosgwyn, St Dogmaels, had served as vice-chairman of the village football club where he had been the driving force behind numerous fundraising efforts.

A keen supporter of the Welsh national side he had been making plans to watch the crucial World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and the Republic of Ireland this weekend.

“We are all absolutely devastated,” St Dogmaels FC manager Steve Williams told the Cambrian News.

“Steff was a lovely person who would do anything for you. It is difficult to take it in that he has gone – may he rest in peace.”

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson confirmed on Sunday that they had received a report of a car colliding with the male pedestrian at approximately 4am.

“The deceased man was in his thirties - next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers,” she added.

“The road was closed but reopened shortly after 11am.

“Police are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or anyone who was travelling along that stretch of road in the early hours of this morning to contact them as a matter of urgency.

“They also want to hear about any sightings of a man walking along the road and are urging anyone with any information to call 101.”