A Leicester man who left the city to pursue his dream of running his own post office has died in a car crash.
Vasta Odedra and wife Shanti moved to Hampshire two months ago, where he became postmaster at Lymington post office.
The 29-year-old died when his car left the road, hit a tree and burst into flames on the A337 at Everton, near New Milton, near Lymington, last Thursday.(May 29)
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mrs Odedra has released a tribute to her husband on behalf of his family.
In reads: "Vasta Odedra, 29, has tragically suffered a fatal car accident. The former postmaster at the Lymington Post Office had only recently moved into the area with his loving wife and had lived in the area for less than two months with big aspirations of setting up his own business."
The tribute added: "His dream had been to run his own post office and he had finally managed to realise his dream.
"However, in the early hours of May 29 he was taken away from us from his trip back home after meeting friends in London.
"He was a kind a friendly person and made friends wherever he went. He was loved by family and friends and he will be sorely missed after having only been with us so briefly."
A spokesman for the Post Office said: "Post Office Ltd would like to offer its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Vasta Odedra, operator of Lymington Post Office and native of Leicester, who was tragically killed in a road traffic accident in Lymington.
"Mr Odedra and his wife took on Lymington post office on March 7 this year. He had exciting plans to modernise the branch, to create a new main-style open-plan branch with significantly longer opening hours to improve customer service.
"The branch was due to close today for a two-week long refurbishment. Due to the very sad news those plans have now been put on hold."
Post Office field change advisor Doug Loxton, who worked closely Mr Odedra on his transformation plans, said: "I am deeply shocked and saddened by Mr Odedra's death. My sincere sympathy goes out to Mrs Odedra and their family and friends.
"Mr Odedra was one of our new operators. He was full of energy and had great plans for Lymington post office."
Police in Hampshire are investigating the crash and have asked for anyone who might have stopped at the scene of the incident, or driven past it following the collision, to contact them.
