The last recorded song by 28-year-old David Pickup - who tragically died this week - has been released in his memory as friends pay tribute to a “wonderful talent”.

Recorded just weeks before the musician lost his life, ‘Counting Stars’ has been released by David’s bandmates – with all proceeds raised set to go straight to his family.

Fellow musician, Damian Carruthers, said the track is David’s “best vocal performance ever” and he would have been “extremely proud” of the finished piece.

The pair first met in 2011 and formed a band called ‘Let There Be Light’ - which saw them perform in High Wycombe music venues and later around the country.

Mr Carruthers said: “The first time I heard this song was two days after he died – it was really tricky I had my phone out ready to ring him and it just hit me that I can’t ring him to chat anymore.

“He just wanted to sing and it is what we want him to be remembered for.

"I wish he was here to see all the great reaction his music has been getting.

“He would have been so proud of how this track turned out. He ended up recording it by accident, so it is really strange how it worked out in the end.”

Flowers, heartfelt messages now lie at the spot the cyclist tragically lost his life after he was hit by a car while travelling down Hicks Farm Rise on Monday night (January 16) – sparking a hit-and-run investigation.

After listening to 'Counting Stars' just two days after David died, his friends decided to publicise the song in the hope it would help people remember him for his passion and talent.

Mr Carruthers continued: “A few weeks ago we went into the studio with friends James Wrigley, James Burton and Danielle Moubarak to record a new song with Dave, we had no idea at the time it would be his last.

“He just lived in his own world and it was a really nice world to be in.

"He never cared about iPhones or cars or anything like that, all he cared about was sitting in his room with a microphone. It was just something he loved doing.

“Don’t get me wrong we would have our arguments, we could spend ages arguing about a cord, but then later he would just make up a lyric, make me laugh and we would just forget about what happened.

“He was an amazing singer and he could write really well. It is what he would want to be remembered for.”

A memorial gig honouring David is in the pipeline, but official plans are yet to be made.

‘Counting Stars’ can be downloaded for free at visit https://ripdave.bandcamp.com/track/counting-stars