New Look heir is killed in car crash

City trader Andrew Singh, 24, nephew of New Look founder Tom Singh, died at the scene of the accident which left a taxi driver fighting for life and a passenger in hospital.

His uncle - worth an estimated £500 million - founded the chain of high street fashion stores in 1969.

The Singh family still have a 22 per cent shareholding in the business. The self-employed trader died when his Mercedes veered into a silver taxi after clipping the kerb.

Witnesses said the Mercedes' lights were not working moments before the collision, which saw the car smashing into a metal pole at the side of the road.

The crash happened at around 3.30am on Wednesday opposite the World's End pub in the King's Road.

John Downes, 21, a chef who lives at the pub, said: "I was fast asleep and suddenly there was this almighty bang. I looked out of the window and could see the cars in the road. The Mercedes was completely written off and at the front of the taxi there was just a hole.

"He must have been going pretty fast. There was metal and petrol all over the road."

Emergency services raced to the scene as police closed off the road, but Mr Singh was pronounced dead an hour later.

The taxi driver was transferred to Charing Cross Hospital with serious face and leg injuries. His passenger was taken to St Mary's Hospital with what were thought to be less serious injuries. A spokesman said they were both in a stable condition.

A friend of Mr Singh today called him "simply one of the best people in the world".

"He would do anything for anybody. He would stop and chat to homeless people, give them money, he was just totally selfless," said the friend, who declined to be named.

Mr Singh, who converted to Christianity after being born a Sikh, attended Regents Business School before working as a self-employed trader.

"He would deal in stocks and shares, but he was heir to New Look as his uncle was Tom Singh so he never had to worry about money," said the friend.

Mr Singh was unmarried and lived in a flat in Marylebone. The popular trader was obsessed with football, and deeply committed to religion.

"He would always carry a football and a Bible around with him wherever he went. He loved watching England and had a few skills on the pitch."

Mr Singh's family came to England in 1950 and settled in Dorset at a time when very few Indian families lived in rural areas.

Tom Singh, who still lives in Weymouth, floated New Look on the stock market in 1998 before taking it private again in 2004.

The publicity-shy businessman, who was said to be close to his nephew, was awarded the OBE last year.

"I was at Tom Singh's London penthouse just a few days ago," said the friend. "They are a very close and loving family."

Another friend, Sean Collins, 33, said: "He was a joy to be around. He was always busy, working from his laptop dealing in stocks and shares."

A note among flowers at the crash scene from Mr Singh's brother James described him as "strong, thoughtful and amazing".