TRIBUTES have been paid to a man from Polruan believed to have died after his car crashed into a tree and caught on fire.

Richard Ellender, 69, was removed from his car by firefighters at Pont near Polruan after the vehicle went off the road at around 11pm on Tuesday, June 30.

An investigation has been launched by police and firefighters to try to find out exactly what happened. Police were unable to confirm the identification of the body as the Cornish Guardian went to press due to the nature of the accident. However close friends have been mourning his death.

Mr Ellender had returned to his "spiritual home" of Cornwall from Plymouth years ago and lived at an estate at the top of Polruan. His death will come as a blow to friends he knew throughout the mystic community, as well as pagan and earth events he attended.

Close friend and organiser of mystic fairs, Karen Kay said: "This has come as such a shock to me. I have been good friends with Richard for more than 10 years now and he will be sorely missed. I can't believe he has gone – he went to all the fairs I organised. He would travel everywhere to all the events.

"He would always have his long robes on and he was well-known. Everyone loved him and he really did live that lifestyle all the time – not just for the events. He was a true character."

Richard, also known as Sigve the Twiceborn or the Yak, was a reader of the Wyrd-Runes, a clairvoyant, clairsentient, healer, teacher of the Runes, and a Godi, also known as a shaman priest.

His friend Karen's website described his readings as "deep", but his focus was "to do all things gently".

The mantra which he used to underpin his beliefs was: "There is truth, there is honour, there is justice; and, above all there is compassion."

The storyteller also published historical works about the occult and fantasy.

Keith Charman, clerk of Lanteglos Parish Council at Polruan said: "It is very sad. Mr Ellender didn't often come down into the village and tended to keep himself to himself."

His car, covered in pagan stickers, was a familiar site parked in Polruan.

Bodmin traffic officer in charge of the serious collisions unit, Sgt Ken George said: "Police had a car fire reported to them and the body of a deceased person was removed from the vehicle. There was no other vehicle involved and the car had gone off the road at Pont, Polruan."