A village in south Bucks has paid tribute to a much-loved elderly man who died on Monday after being hit by a car.

The man, identified locally as Ernie Moody, 95, was involved in an accident with a black Vauxhall Astra in Lower Road, close to the junction at Grange Road in Chalfont St Peter, and sadly died at the scene.

Teresa Goncalves from Madeira Coffee Shop on the High Street, told the BFP he was in the café every day ordering tea, and was always their first customer in the morning.

She said: “I’ve known him for about five years – he was always here. He was a good person, we miss him a lot. It’s so weird to not see him anymore.

“He drank tea all day. The people in the village, all know him so they always used to buy him tea when they saw him in here. I’m still in shock.

“He always used to fall asleep in here. He used to knock on the window at 7am before we were even open – he was our first customer every day.”

Lesley Stone, deputy manager at bookmakers Coral, also on the High Street, said Mr Moody was in there “90 per cent of the time” and they "bantered" over Chelsea, his favourite football team.

She said: “Ernie was a real character. He was always jolly and liked to laugh. He liked his little bet every day. Chelsea was his team – and I support Chelsea too so we used to have a good banter about that.

“He was like a grandad to me. He was marvellous. I can’t believe it has happened. He was an amazing guy for 95.”

Lesley added Mr Moody was speaking to her at the counter minutes before he died. When manager Jamie Heath went out to check what had happened, she said he returned “devastated” as he had seen Mr Moody lying in the road.

She said: “He [Mr Moody] was stood here talking to me and the next minute he went out and it happened. I was devastated.

“Jamie actually walked along there when we heard someone had been knocked down; he walked along to find out who it was. He came back in and was devastated.

“Everybody knew him even if they didn’t know his name. They knew him as the old man with the walking stick. He used to walk up and down here all the time.

"It's just so sad."

Mr Moody is believed to have four sons, one who lives in the village.

Flowers and cards were also left by residents who knew him outside Wilcox Limousines, near to where the accident happened.

- Did you know Mr Moody? Leave your tributes in the comments below or contact shruti.sheth@london.newsquest.co.uk / 01494 755082.